Ignitis Renewables has fully commissioned the 314-megawatt (MW) Kelmė wind farm, the largest onshore wind project in Lithuania and across the Baltic States, the company said on Thursday.
Located in the Kelmė district, the wind farm is expected to generate approximately 1 terawatt-hour (TWh) of electricity per year—roughly equivalent to one month of Lithuania’s total power consumption or enough to supply 250,000 households.
“This is a landmark for Lithuania’s green transition,” said Darius Maikštėnas, chief executive of parent company Ignitis Group.
The project was developed in two phases. The first 16 turbines, with a combined capacity of 114MW, became operational in April 2025. The remaining 28 turbines, totaling 200MW, entered commercial service this month. The site hosts 44 Nordex N163/6.X turbines, each standing up to 240 metres tall, making them the most powerful wind turbines installed in the country.
Total investment in the wind farm reached €550 million. The project is considered a key component of Ignitis Group’s strategy to develop 4–5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable capacity by 2030.
Local officials welcomed the project’s contribution to Lithuania’s energy independence. “This shows the energy transition is already happening here,” said Ildefonsas Petkevičius, mayor of the Kelmė district.
Ignitis Renewables has committed €192,000 in voluntary funding to eight nearby communities. Supported initiatives include upgrades to community centres, heating and lighting systems, and sports infrastructure.
“We aim to be good neighbours,” said Giedrius Meškelė, head of Ignitis Renewables in Lithuania. “In the future, we’ll begin paying a generation fee of €1 per megawatt-hour.”
The company said it plans to continue offering annual community funding and already supports regional cultural and educational activities. Contracts have also been awarded to local businesses for services such as road maintenance and landscaping, contributing to longer-term economic impact in the area.
