Energy Smart is raising the profile of solar energy in the Baltics by building a 100kWp pilot plant in Kurenurme, Estonia. Foundations for the system’s 11 tracker towers were laid last week and, when completed, they will each hold 42 solar panels. Latvian energy company Latvernergo has agreed to purchase the electricity generated.
During planning, Energy Smart initially pencilled in a capacity of 300-500kW for the project. However, funding shortfalls scuppered these hopes and saw the design team eventually settle on a 100kW capacity for the pilot. The cost of this initial stage will come to €400,000, with Estonia’s Environmental Agency, KIK, and its Renewable Energy Agency, KENA, footing 70% of the bill.
The engineering team is being headed up by Tõnu Jõgis, with the Tallinn Technical University and Estonian Meteorological and Hydrological Institute taking up advisory roles.
