Ignitis Renewables, an international green energy company, has completed the first stage of the largest wind energy project in Lithuania and the Baltics, Kelmė wind farm. The 114-megawatt (MW) Kelmė wind farm I has successfully reached the commercial operations date. 

“Kelmė wind farm I is the largest wind energy project implemented by Ignitis Renewables in Lithuania to date. This is one of the cornerstone projects that will allow us to move firmly towards our main goal of reaching 4–5 gigawatts (GW) of installed green generation capacity by 2030. This stage marks the increase in local electricity generation as well as the creation of a more secure energy system domestically and across the region,” says Darius Maikštėnas, CEO of Ignitis Group. 

Kelmė wind farm I is the first of the two stages in the largest onshore wind projects currently under construction in the Baltics. The first stage of the wind farm comprises 16 Nordex N163/6.X wind turbines. The project is carried out while following the highest environmental, health and safety standards. 

The second stage of Kelmė wind farm is nearing completion. After it’s finished, the total capacity of the wind farm will reach 314 MW. With both stages operational, the wind farm will be able to cover the electricity demand of 250 thousand households. The expected total investments in Kelmė wind farm, including the acquisition price and construction costs, should reach around EUR 550 million. 

This is a significant step towards the strategic goal of Ignitis Group to create 100% green and secure energy ecosystem in the Baltic states and other priority markets. 

A major anniversary is the perfect time to reflect on progress and achievements. The history of modern wind energy in Lithuania spans two decades. Now is a good time to evaluate the contributions the wind technologies have made to the national energy sector. For example, did you know that Lithuania can generate all the electricity it requires from renewable energy sources alone? Wind energy is becoming increasingly important in the electricity generation mix. According to the latest information, wind farms are already generating a significant share of electricity generated in Lithuania and have huge potential. 

“Lithuania has every opportunity to lead the wind energy sector in the region. With the rapid growth of wind farms, renewable energy projects are increasing the local electricity generation capacity and strengthening the national economic and geopolitical security. The rapid development of wind energy projects in Lithuania is obvious as they are becoming the main source of green electricity. This trend is an important sign of the country moving towards energy independence,” says Virginijus Jagela, Head of Asset Operations Management at Ignitis Renewables, an international green energy company. 

Changes in Lithuania’s electricity generation mix 

In recent years, Lithuania’s renewable energy sector has been growing very rapidly, and new wind farms are the main contributor to the growth. In 2024, wind farms generated 1.38 times more electricity compared to 2023, which indicates a significant shift towards less dependence on fossil fuels. 

“In 2024, electricity generated from renewable energy sources was 35% higher compared to last year. Lithuania actually outperforms many of its European neighbours in this respect, with wind farms contributing to the electricity generation mix the most (46%), i.e., they covered 27% of the total demand. In this regard, we are close to the electricity generation numbers in Germany or the Netherlands. The data clearly shows that Lithuania has potential to lead the wind energy sector in the Baltic region,” explains the expert at Ignitis Renewables V. Jagela. 

One of the main driving forces behind the sector’s growth is consistent investments into new wind farms and innovative solutions that enable a more efficient utilisation of renewables. Last year, 513 megawatts (MW) of new wind turbines were installed in Lithuania. The total wind farm capacity in Lithuania currently amounts to around 1,740 MW, which is nearly three times higher compared to Latvia and Estonia combined. 

In the following years, the amount of electricity generated by wind farms should increase even more because currently there are several large wind farms under construction, including the wind farm in Kelmė, which is one of the largest wind farms under construction in the Baltic States. 

The capacity of each wind turbine in Kelmė wind farm amounts up to 7 MW. They are the largest and most powerful wind turbines the company has ever installed. When operating at maximum capacity, one revolution of the blades of such a wind turbine generates enough electricity to power a single household for an entire day. In other words, one wind turbine can cover the electricity demand of 8,000 households. After completion, the 300 MW Kelmė wind farm will be able to cover the electricity demand of 250 thousand Lithuanian households, a territory equivalent to Kaunas district. 

It is important to note that electricity generation from offshore wind is much more effective and reliable compared to onshore wind because there are no obstacles in the open sea that could impede wind flow. Wind turbines operating high at sea are able to capture faster and more stable wind, which is typical for the environment. That is why they can generate electricity for 90% of the time, even when there is no wind on shore. The 700 MW Curonian Nord wind farm is being developed by Ignitis Renewables in the Baltic Sea and will be able to generate around three terawatt-hours (TWh) of green electricity per year. This amount of energy could cover around a quarter of the total electricity demand in Lithuania. 

The importance of wind energy has never been greater 

Wind energy is both clean and strategically important for Lithuania’s goal of energy independence. The geopolitical challenges showcased that the more electricity we generate locally, the less we are dependent on external suppliers and price fluctuations. Wind turbines do not require fossil fuel for operation, have no emissions and reduce our dependence on energy imports. Therefore, they are an important source of local electricity generation. 

According to the Lithuanian electricity transmission system operator, Litgrid, on 6 March, between 1 and 2 pm, instantaneous generation from solar and wind farms exceeded 1.4 gigawatts (GW) and the electricity prices went down. At 1 PM, it amounted to 0.59 EUR/MWh, and at 2 PM it dropped to 0.27 EUR/MWh. The numbers suggest that the energy generated from renewable energy sources help maintain competitive electricity prices. 

Lithuania has extraordinary conditions to develop wind energy both on land and in the Baltic Sea. The rate of development of wind energy projects will only grow in the coming years, ensuring more stable electricity prices and greater national energy and economic security. 

Investing in wind energy promotes technological progress, creates new jobs, strengthens local economies and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In the long term, it will help Lithuania reach climate neutrality goals and ensure a green and secure energy ecosystem for current and future generations. 

The history of modern Lithuanian wind energy spans two decades, with the Lithuanian Wind Power Association (LVEA) also celebrating its 20th anniversary. It all began with the little-known fact that the first wind turbine in Lithuania was initiated not by businesses or the state, but by the Catholic Church. Since then, Lithuania saw major progress in this area and is now considered a leader in the Baltic region in wind energy production. A green energy company, Ignitis Renewables, is securing the country’s energy independence by developing large-scale wind farms. 

“The last 20 years, and especially the most recent five years, have shown that Lithuania is capable of leading in the field of renewable energy. What was once considered an ambitious experiment has become the cornerstone of our energy independence. We continue to invest in the development of wind energy and accelerate technological advancements because, besides it being an opportunity to reduce dependence on imported energy, it also a strategic decision that creates new jobs, promotes innovation and ensures competitive electricity prices for the country’s residents and businesses,” says Giedrius Meškelė, Head of Renewable Energy in Lithuania at Ignitis Renewables. 

The importance of wind farms for national energy security 

It was not an easy road for wind energy in Lithuania. The first wind turbine in Lithuania was built by the Diocese of Kaišiadorys. The 600 kilowatt (kW) wind turbine, built in 2004 in the Kretinga district, was an investment by Dioceses of Magdeburg and Kaišiadorys. Sceptics claimed that Lithuania was too small for efficient wind energy usage and that such projects would not be economically viable. Over time, each new wind farm proved that this type of energy, besides being environmentally friendly, is strategically beneficial to the entire state. 

Lithuania had long been dependent on energy imports, but geopolitical challenges, particularly the unprovoked and unjustifiable aggression against Ukraine, clearly demonstrated that energy independence is not just an economic issue, it is a guarantee of national security. The European Union’s REPowerEU plan, adopted in response to the energy crisis, clearly emphasises the need to develop local renewable energy sources to reduce dependence on external suppliers. Lithuania is already leading in the speed of implementation of these measures, and the wind energy sector has become the main pillar of the country’s energy independence. 

“In recent years, new wind farms have significantly increased the local electricity production in our country. In 2024, a record onshore wind farm capacity of about 500 megawatt (MW) was connected to the Lithuanian grid, thus substantially increasing local energy generation. Due to these investments, in 2024 wind farms comprised the largest share of local electricity generation in Lithuania. They covered 27% of the country’s total electricity consumption. This metric places us among the leaders in Europe,” says Meškelė. 

Significant progress took place in recent years, when Ignitis Renewables began constructing in Kelmė the largest onshore wind farm in the Baltic states, where 44 wind turbines have already been installed, with a total capacity of 300 MW. This is a significant step towards complete energy independence as this wind farm alone will be able to produce enough electricity per year to cover the demand of approximately 250,000 households. 

Technological progress 

It is the development of the wind energy sector that helps Lithuania become one of the leading countries in Europe in terms of its onshore wind capacity. In 2024, the country, along with Romania, was leading in terms of the most powerful installed onshore wind turbines, with an average capacity of 6.3 MW each. This indicates that Lithuania, besides rapidly expanding its wind energy capacity, is using the latest technologies that enable more efficient use of wind resources.  

Moreover, the implementation of new technologies helps protect wildlife: “To reduce the environmental impact, Ignitis Renewables is deploying state-of-the-art bird protection technology in Lithuania. This system uses radar and artificial intelligence algorithms, allows real-time monitoring of bird migration routes and, if necessary, temporarily halts the operation of wind turbines. This technology has never been deployed before in Lithuania. It will help maintain the balance between green energy production and nature conservation,” Meškelė explains. 

Ignitis Renewables, an international green energy company, entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in Nord Wind Park, a renewable energy project under development in Pasvalys district, Lithuania. The hybrid power plant consists of a 200-megawatt (MW) wind farm, a 50 MW solar farm and a 20 MW (80 MWh) battery energy storage system. 

“We are driving the investments up to reach our long-term goal of 4–5 GW green capacities installed by 2030. We focus on technologies that can deliver a 100% green and secure energy ecosystem,” says Giedrius Meškelė, Head of Renewable Energy in Lithuania at Ignitis Renewables. 

According to him, the hybrid project consists of several technologies. It is a wind farm complemented by a solar farm and a battery energy storage system. “Batteries enable integration of renewables by facilitating demand management, improves grid reliability while limiting output curtailment,” emphasises G. Meškelė. 

The project is expected to secure the grid connection capacity in the near future. 

Last year marked a significant breakthrough for the European energy sector, with the offshore wind playing an increasingly important role in this transformation, helping not only to fight against climate change but also to ensure energy security and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. 

2024 became a period of important changes for the European energy sector. According to the data of the European Commission, in the first half of last year, wind and solar power for the first time overtook power generation from fossil fuels. Renewables in Europe are estimated to have generated 30 percent of all energy, with fossil fuels at 27 percent. 

The main source of renewable energy source in Europe is wind, and though more energy is still generated by onshore wind farms, more and more countries with coastline are turning their eyes towards water. 

For example, according to the data of the European Wind Energy Association WindEurope, in the first half of last year, European governments held auctions for 19.7 gigawatt (GW) new wind farms. Wind farms of 6.5 GW capacity are planned to be installed onshore, while offshore wind farms are expected to have over twice the capacity at 13.2 GW. 

These figures allow a forecast of future power generation and show evident rapid changes. For example, last year, new wind energy capacities of 15 GW were installed in Europe, of which offshore wind energy power accounted for 2.3 GW. Offshore wind farms are more effective and stable than those onshore, therefore countries with access to offshore wind want to benefit from this. 

Actions by the big players of Europe 

Countries with a long history of dependence on fossil fuel are actively turning towards the possibilities of power generation from offshore wind. 

For example, Germany made impressive progress in this field by installing 0.7 GW new capacities. It is over twice the size than in previous years. A significant contribution to the development was made by new projects, such as the Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea and the Gode Wind project in the North Sea. The total offshore wind generation capacity of Germany has reached 9.2 GW and satisfies a significant part of the electricity needs of the country. 

The United Kingdom is also launching significant changes. The country closed its last coal-fired power plant last year, which had been in operation since 1967; the country’s dependence on natural gas is also rapidly decreasing.  

Last year, wind energy became the largest energy source of the UK generating 29 percent of the country’s capacity, while according to the forecasts, gas will no longer be used for certain periods this year to generate power. 

The United Kingdom also plans show the shift towards offshore wind power generation. Last year, the UK Government organised auctions for 5.3 GW offshore wind power generation capacity, leaving onshore generating capacity with 990 megawatts (MW). 

A giant breakthrough is forecasted 

Europe currently has offshore wind farms with the total capacity of 35 GW, but the European Environment Agency forecasts the capacity will reach 110 GW by 2030, and 320 GW by 2050. 

According to the estimates by Canadian market research company Precedence Research, in 2023, the value of the European offshore wind power sector was USD 8.58 billion, which will increase to USD 56.3 billion by 2034. 

“The offshore wind power is clearly turning into the cornerstone in the green transformation of Europe. This technology not only helps to cut down carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions but also creates new jobs, strengthens energy security and ensures a more stable power supply,” says Paulius Kalmantas, Communication Partner of international green energy company Ignitis Renewables. 

He emphasises that power generation from renewable sources has been experiencing a significant breakthrough in recent years in Lithuania, while wind and sun already generate approximately two thirds of all power generated in the country. “Nevertheless, we have an enormous source of inexhaustible and green energy in the Baltic Sea, which we must use and walk in the same direction as the rest of Europe,” stated P. Kalmantas. 

Thierry Aelens, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the international green energy company Ignitis Renewables, has decided to resign from his position effective from 30 March 2025. T. Aelens is stepping down due to personal reasons and to pursue new career opportunities closer to his home. The selection of a new CEO will commence immediately. 

To ensure a seamless transition and maintain business continuity, Gary Bills has been appointed as the Interim CEO, effective from 31 March 2025. He has been with Ignitis Renewables since 2022, serving as the Chief Operations Officer (COO), and has a proven track record in renewable energy, with over 20 years of experience, spanning entire project lifecycles, including the development and construction of both onshore and offshore projects. 

“Ignitis Group has ambitious goals to develop its Green Capacities segment. We aim to reach 4–5 gigawatts (GW) of total installed Green Capacities by 2030. T. Aelens has built a team of professionals with international experience and imparted vast knowledge of the field to the team at Ignitis Renewables. We are grateful for his pivotal contributions and wish him all the best in his future endeavours,” said Darius Maikštėnas, Ignitis Group CEO. 

“It has been an honour and a pleasure to lead Ignitis Renewables. Here I found an ambitious team dedicated to growing renewable capacities in the Baltics and Poland and ensuring the region’s energy independence. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and am confident in the company’s continued success under new leadership,” expressing his gratitude stated T. Aelens. 

For the third year, Ignitis Renewables, an international green energy company, has provided financial support to local communities located near the wind farms managed or developed by the company. Financial support was granted to as many as 23 community projects in the Lithuanian districts of Kelmė, Mažeikiai, Tauragė, Jurbarkas, Kretinga and Klaipėda. This year, a record amount of EUR 561,000 was granted. The company has already granted over EUR 900,000 in total for community initiatives in Lithuania.

“While developing renewable energy projects, we try to be good neighbours for local communities. Our support is not limited to improving their wellbeing as we also foster local culture, strengthen relationships between local residents and contribute to community growth. We want to help the neighbours of our wind farms build a solid foundation for growing and prospering,” said Emilija Musteikytė, Community Projects Coordinator at Ignitis Renewables.

Financial support to communities located near wind farms under development and in operation

For the first time, financial support was granted to the projects (eight in total) of communities located near Kelmė wind farm, which is currently being developed by Ignitis Renewables. The communities of Vaiguva and Kražiai Elderships plan to use the financial support to improve their wellbeing, for example, renovate, thermally insulate and fit out their premises, install lighting and organise events. The financial support granted to communities in Kelmė alone amounts to EUR 191,800.

The Butkiškės Community Association will spend their financial support on renovating their community centre: replacing windows, fixing electrical installation, improving ceilings, floors, walls, installing heat pumps and a theatre stage. 

“We have been engaged in the community theatre activities for nearly three years, but we needed a space for theatre activities and leisure. The second floor of the community centre was unusable, but the financial support from Ignitis Renewables will help us to solve this problem. If the financial support had not been granted, we would probably have not renovated it,” said the Chair of the Butkiškės Community Association, Kristina Bertašienė.

Fitting out community gathering places and adapting them to people with disabilities

The Rotuliai village community in Jurbarkas District are also glad to have the opportunity to renovate their community centre. According to Viktorija Aranauskienė, Community Chair, the financial support received for heating installation will help the community host important local events and workshops and will enable resident gatherings all year round. 

“We want to renovate the community centre, install a heating solution so local residents can carry out their activities, such as organising Christmas tree lighting events, workshops for children or knitting meetings. By renovating the community centre, we also want to make it accessible to people with disabilities,” states V. Aranauskienė.

Another community in Jurbarkas District, Jovarų Alėja, has built a container-type community centre using the financial support granted by Ignitis Renewables, and it will use the financial support granted in 2024 (EUR 56,000) to fit out the centre and organise the opening event.

More events that unite communities 

Financial support granted by Ignitis Renewables is not limited to building renovations, it is also used to unite local residents. For example, in Tauragė District, Lauksargiai village community Lauksargiškiai will use the financial support to acquire items needed for events. 

“We host many events that attract a lot of people. We have an outdoor stage, but we lack seating for the audience. The Eldership has old benches that could be used during events, but they are not very comfortable for elderly people to sit on,” says Elvyra Grombergienė, representative of Lauksargiai community.

Funds for uniting the locals and town visitors will also be used in J. Lankutis Public Library, located in Klaipėda District Municipality. The financial support will be used to acquire an outdoor dome, which, according to Birutė Grybauskienė, Chief Librarian, will perform several functions for the community.

“Our vision is to open an information centre inside the dome, which would have information about all enterprises and institutions in Klaipėda District. This way visitors and local residents will no longer have to visit several institutions to find the information they need. Besides this, the dome will host educational events. A playground, stadium and a community vegetable garden will be built next to the dome, therefore I believe the dome will become a true centre of attraction for locals,” underlines B. Grybauskienė.

The funding will help cherish the history of Lithuania

The financial support approved by Ignitis Renewables for Mažeikiai-based association called Creating Together will help publish a book about Pikeliai, which, according to the head of the association, Danielius Gedutis, will contribute to the preservation of the town’s history.

“We have been collecting information about Pikeliai for years, and we were found wanting to put everything into a book instead of leaving the compiled information to fade away. This scientific book compiled by professors and doctoral students will be included in our archive and serve as a valuable source of information for students writing their graduation theses or for future generations. It is currently in the editing stage and will be published later this year,” says D. Gedutis.

He notes that the project funds will also be used to renovate the block-paved path leading to the Monument of Vytautas the Grand, a community gathering place of great importance. People gather near the monument to celebrate Lithuanian public holidays and to sing the national anthem.

The Pikeliai settlement, celebrating the third year of being good neighbours with Ignitis Renewables, have already benefited from the company’s financial support by installing lighting, smart benches, renovating and fitting out the community centre, which is used for community activities and hosting pilgrims.

Church, library, school and community

“Vydmantai community located near our Kretinga wind farm is really special. It boasts highly active residents. We receive financial support inquiries from the parish (for church construction), library, school and the community. In three years, solar energy powered lighting and an outdoor classroom-dome were installed, the gymnasium football pitch was fenced, an outdoor stage was constructed and a wooden structure was built for the church, which is under construction,” E. Musteikytė commented further on the Vydmantai community. 

According to the Chair of Vydmantai Community Centre, Simas Končius, the Vydmantai community is very happy with Ignitis Renewables’ initiative. The financial support granted this year will fund the works on the church facade and door. The funds granted for the library will make it possible to organise a series of events: two plays, nine psychology lectures and twelve outdoor training sessions. Residents of Kretinga and Klaipėda Districts will greatly benefit from such an abundance of initiatives. In addition, the gymnasium will have its electrical installation and ceiling renovated. The funds granted to the community will be used to acquire a container-warehouse, a modular house, outdoor furniture and a tent. Since the community does not have its own premises, the financial support will help to store the property that they have.

“It is important that we did not have to go anywhere and ask for it. A few years ago, the company approached with its financial support model. We are happy that this partnership enables us to attract investments, improve the wellbeing and infrastructure of the community and the settlement,” added S. Končius.

Financial support has been granted for three years in a row

Ignitis Renewables has been supporting communities for three years now. In 2022, the company granted its support to nine communities located near its renewable energy projects, with EUR 86,100 granted in total. In 2023, ten Lithuanian and six Polish projects received financial support, with EUR 350,000 granted in total.

In 2024, projects of the communities located near the wind farms in Tauragė, Mažeikiai, Jurbarkas, Kretinga, Kelmė (Lithuania), Pomerania, Silesia (Poland), and solar farms in Vārme and Stelpe (Latvia) received financial support. The total financial support granted for the projects of the communities in three countries amounts to over EUR 1.1 million. 

An international green energy company, Ignitis Renewables, will be the first company in Lithuania to install advanced bird monitoring systems made by ProTecBird. The bird detection system will detect and recognise the birds flying towards wind turbines in real time. The wind turbines will then be stopped, and the birds will be protected from potential collision. The latest technologies will both ensure the security of the birds and the efficiency of wind turbines. The system is to be installed by next spring. 

According to Lina Žibienė, Head of Environmental and Permitting at Ignitis Renewables, protecting biodiversity is one of the most important objectives in the sustainability strategy of the company. Therefore, as a green energy leader in the Baltic states, the Ignitis Renewables is constantly looking for the most innovative environmental solutions in the projects it develops. 

“Even though we do not currently have the obligation to install the system for wind farms that have been built already, we believe that this decision is very important in order to minimise the environmental impact of our renewable energy projects. While conducting surveys at Kelmė wind farm, we noticed that that there are vulnerable species inhabiting the territory and that additional measures are required to protect them. That is why we decided to act now. We chose the highest-quality technologies that were created by world-renowned manufacturers. The new systems will ensure the maximum efficiency and harmonise the energy generation and the highest environmental standards,” said L. Žibienė. 

The most advanced technologies in the largest wind farm in the Baltic States 

The bird protection system will be installed at Kelmė wind farm, the largest wind farm in the Baltics. The project will consist of 44 wind turbines and its total capacity will be 300 megawatts (MW), It is important to note that the project includes the deployment of advanced environmental solutions, i.e., technologies that nurture the local ecosystem. 

The installed bird monitoring systems will help protect the vulnerable species, including the lesser spotted eagle, the western marsh harrier and the common buzzard, flying around the territory.

Artificial intelligence employed to benefit the nature 

Kelmė wind farm will have 84 bird protection devices installed on 28 wind turbines, which are made by a German manufacturer, ProTecBird. They will be installed 10 metres above the ground. Even though the wind farm will have 44 wind turbines, the number of devices will be enough to cover the whole territory.  

The system uses high-definition cameras and artificial intelligence (AI) to detect and identify birds, including their flight speed, path and height, in real time. If birds enter the 300–600 metre zone, the wind turbines can be stopped within 30 seconds. This technology will make sure that the wind turbines are shut down for a short duration, until the birds pass them, avoiding the long-term generation disruptions. 

The bird monitoring technology evolved as a spin-off from advanced air defense systems originally designed to detect and track drones automatically. With the integration of sophisticated AI modules, it has been transformed into a powerful tool for reliably identifying bird species at wind farms, effectively eliminating the risk of bird collisions.

ProTecBird, a German technology company, pioneers innovative bird protection solutions by merging its deep expertise in ornithology with state-of-the-art technology. This cutting-edge bird monitoring system is remarkably versatile, extending its application beyond wind farms to industrial facilities, stadiums, and airports, where it ensures the safety of both birds and air traffic.  

“We are proud to have Ignitis Renewables choose our AI-powered AVES Wind anti-collision system. It is a privilege to support Lithuania’s energy transition while actively protecting bird species,” says Thorsten Heinzen, CEO of ProTecBird. 

“With the help of this system, we will be able to constantly monitor the birds, including their habitats, flight paths and perhaps discover new species that were not identified before,” says L. Žibienė, when listing the benefits of the bird monitoring system. 

Learn more about how the ProTecBird system works by watching this video.