Lithuania is again receiving electricity from Sweden. The power cable that runs under the Baltic Sea is working again after the repair. Lithuania’s connection with Sweden and Poland is only part of the energy independence strategy of our neighbors. In generating its own electricity Lithuanians bet on renewable energy sources.
There is a saying: “During a strong wind, a fool builds a wall, and a smart man builds a mill.” Pagėgiai municipality situated near the Kaliningrad region is one of the most windy ones through the natural phenomenon of “Corridor of the Gulf”. This area began to bring revenues after the construction of the wind farm. The new generation complex of hundred-meter wind turbines belongs to the Amberwind company.
“We are one of the biggest producers, rather than consumers. The total power of our wind turbines is 110 MW,” says Egidijus Simutsis, director of Amberwind.
“Wind turbines do not bother me, let them stand”
We built a wind farm in just two years, conducting a study of its impact on the environment before that. Turbines are far from the houses, so locals do not complain. On the contrary, they are happy that the investor has built good roads, they can reach any field.
“Wind turbines do not bother me, let them stand,” says a local resident.
“We have an agreement, we look after the, remove snow, mow the grass. It gives extra earnings for the population,” noted Alvidas Lyashynskas, a local farmer.
Among the three Baltic sister countries, Lithuania is the leader in wind energy. A quarter of all the electricity generated there is produced from wind turbines. The state helps by buying energy at the eco price, but it is still a private business with bank loans.
Extra money is paid only until the mill pays off — 10-12 years. Then the wind farm returns investments while reducing the price of electricity.
This is just the beginning
There is no carbon dioxide emissions from windmills, but there is a significant impact on the overall energy market. The electricity consumption peak is smoothed, while the production peak goes up.
“It is a known fact that when a strong wind is blowing, it is blowing in Germany, in Denmark, and here, too, the electricity price is close to zero,” says Egidijus Simutsis.
Lithuanians are planning to go the Danish way — to build wind turbines in the sea off the coast, where the wind blows 98% of the time.
Yaraslau Stseshyk, Anna Rusinava, Belsat, Lithuania, Photos – grushevskogo5.com
