Baltic region’s largest solar park set to come online in western Estonia

The largest solar power facility – a 244 MW solar park – in the Baltics is expected to begin operations this summer in Risti, Laane County, marking a major milestone in Estonia’s renewable energy expansion, Estonia’s national broadcaster ERR.ee reported on January 22.

It will significantly reduce reliance on imported electricity and fossil fuels, which is strategically important for Estonia and the wider Baltic region. Large scale solar generation, combined with battery storage, helps smooth peak price spikes by supplying power when demand and prices are highest, especially in the morning and evening.

The project, developed by Sunly, carries an investment value exceeding €120mn. A large-scale battery storage facility of a similar cost is planned for construction next to the site in 2027.

Spanning around 250 hectares, the solar park will comprise approximately 350,000 panels. Transporting the equipment to the site required several thousand truck deliveries. Installation began nearly a year ago and is currently about 40% complete, with full deployment expected by August.

Once operational, the 244-megawatt facility will be capable of producing enough electricity annually to meet the needs of roughly 55,000 households. Output, however, will vary significantly over the year, with winter months accounting for just 5% of total generation.

Sunly says the project’s financial viability depends on its ability to supply electricity during peak demand periods, particularly in the morning and evening.

To increase efficiency, the panels are mounted on tracking systems that follow the sun from east to west throughout the day, rather than remaining fixed in a southern orientation.

“Many solar parks in the Baltics are built facing south. They are designed to be controllable. In other words, they follow the sun from east to west throughout the day. As a result, the percentage of production increases significantly,” said Priit Lepasepp, Sunly’s chief executive, ERR.ee reported.

A battery park planned for the same location will allow the solar facility’s entire output to be stored for up to four hours and released to the grid during periods of high demand.

Both the solar and battery projects are being developed without state subsidies.

Estonia has seen rapid growth in solar energy in recent years. Data from Elering shows installed solar capacity has risen from 42 megawatts in 2019 to more than 1,200 megawatts today, ERR.ee said.