From March 3 to 8, the offices of the Department for Business and Trade of Britain in Latvia and Estonia held a meeting for representatives of the Latvian and Estonian wind industry to learn about industry news and promote reciprocal cooperation. Kaspars Liepiņš, the Developer of the Green Energy Cluster of the Freeport of Ventspils, went to Great Britain on an experience exchange mission to gain a deeper understanding of offshore green energy field development in Scotland and England.
“Thanks to the invitation of the British Embassy in Riga, together with other members of the Latvian and Estonian trade mission, we used the chance to visit Scotland and England, getting to know more about the news in the field of green energy in Great Britain. Since the Freeport of Ventspils Authority is working in the sector of offshore wind farms, learning about European good practices and exchanging pieces of knowledge is very valuable,” K. Liepiņš shares his impressions of the experience.
One of the most impressive meeting stops was the town of Grimsby, which has prosperously transformed the port and town economy from the world’s largest fishing and fish processing center to a logistics hub into a logistics center for wind farm supply and wind farms. Along with the port’s visit, the everyday life of the local community was also explored. The traditional values of the fishing industry are successfully maintained in Grimsby; however, at the same time, the presence of the “green course” can be felt as the port town confidently takes a step into the era of renewable energy. The University of Hull in Grimsby has successfully established its path towards modernization: keeping pace with the times, the University of Hull has opened a “green” innovation hub – Aura Innovation Centre. The center mainly consists of small and medium-sized enterprises that produce their own technologies for the demands of the renewable energy sector.
“Great Britain has a remarkably well-developed offshore wind farm industry and supply chains, which can help developers in Latvia build wind farms and expand the sector locally. The acquired knowledge is particularly helpful in the perspective of the modernization of the port of Ventspils – not only by transforming the port of Ventspils into a center of renewable energy but by helping to invent new service and production segments in the port, thus adapting to the new needs of the offshore field,” emphasizes K. Liepiņš.
The meeting was organized in collaboration with trade and economic development consultancy AIA from Aberdeen, Scotland. The company has a lot of experience in wind farms and the renewable energy sector; moreover, it has previously helped organize similar missions in Great Britain and visits to Latvia, providing an opportunity to meet and promote cooperation with local specialists in the field. The meeting served as a return visit for representatives of the Latvian and Estonian offshore wind industry, allowing them to learn about British experience on the ground in Great Britain and, furthermore, to strengthen contacts with state institutions and supply chain companies.