English
The largest solar panel park in Latvia will be built in the territory of the Port of Riga in Spilve meadows with a nominal capacity of at least 100MW and a planned electricity generation of at least 100,000MWh per year, which corresponds to the annual electricity consumption of an average large Latvian city. It is the first step in the implementation of an ambitious Spilve industrial park project.
Viesturs Zeps, Chairman of the Freeport of Riga Board: “It is the most ambitious project in Riga so far related to new energy sources. The solar park will produce green energy for the port and Riga companies, and most likely will make electricity cheaper for all Riga residents. The port of Riga is the largest industrial park in the Baltics with untapped economic potential in Spilve. Working with investors and potential customers on the Spilve industrial park project, we are aware of the potential for the green energy development - first for the solar panel park, then for the development of hydrogen technologies. Moreover, today's international manufacturers and logistics chains demand “greener transport corridors”, and the solar park is an opportunity to offer green and cheap energy to the port stevedores. Furthermore, it makes the port of Riga much more competitive for attracting investment projects than any other port in the region. And what is the most critical issue - this is a big step for Riga and Latvia towards energy independence.”
The developer of the solar panel park will be selected in an international competition launched by the Freeport of Riga Authority. The territory of 176ha is planned for the development of the solar park, which provides the potential for the creation of a park of at least 100MW. In the selection of applicants, several parameters are to be evaluated - the land rent, as well as the green energy that the producer will transfer to the port for the implementation of its core business.
“It should be noted that the “green” component, i.e. compliance with the European climate neutrality goals, energy efficiency requirements and the availability of renewable energy resources, is one of the essential prerequisites for attracting international funding, such as the support of the European Investment Bank, providing opportunities for other investors to develop their business projects at the port ," emphasized V. Zeps.
According to the Freeport of Riga Development Program 2019-2028. 2018, the Freeport Authority has set the following priority areas in its future development - diversification of the port's cargo portfolio by attracting new cargo flows, increasing the volume of non-energy transit cargoes, as well as the development of hitherto undeveloped port territories, attracting production activity related and/or unrelated to the function of the port in the territories being developed, which in the long term could form a wider industrial services’ cluster in the port of Riga. One of the competitive advantages of the Port of Riga compared to other ports in the region is the developed infrastructure, the rapid development of innovations and the available free territories for new investments.
More information about the auction is available at: https://rop.lv/lv/nekustama-ipasuma-un-personalservitutu-nomas-tiesibu-izsole .
Information for media
- liene.ozola [at] rop.lv, +371 670 308 53
- Freeport of Riga Authority
- 12 Kalpaka blvd, Riga, Latvia, LV-1010
