Wedoany.com Report-Jun 6, Lithuania will relaunch the tender process for its second 700MW offshore wind farm next week, following recent amendments to the original framework. The tender is scheduled to open on June 9 and will be overseen by the National Energy Regulatory Council (NERC). Developers interested in participating must register by September 8.

The initial tender, paused earlier this year, was halted to allow the government to review the conditions. The objective was to ensure that the impact on electricity prices for consumers would be limited. Following the review, updated terms have now been released.

According to the revised rules, the tender will proceed only if at least two developers submit proposals. The government confirmed that income tax from the winning bidder will be allocated to fund public interest services.

The updated structure also outlines how financial aspects of the winning proposal will be managed. Specifically, both the transaction price and the development fee will be adjusted annually over a period of eight years. These adjustments will reflect inflation and fluctuations in Lithuanian electricity prices.

A key condition introduced by the government is that consumers will only contribute financially to the project once it begins producing electricity. Generation is currently anticipated to start around 2033.

Additionally, the amended tender removes previous preferences for offshore wind projects in the grid connection process. Offshore and onshore wind projects will now be treated equally in terms of grid access, creating a level playing field for all renewable energy initiatives.

These changes aim to encourage competitive participation, promote fair access, and ensure that the offshore wind development aligns with broader national energy and economic objectives.