Area special plan and strategic environmental assessment

In order to create conditions for the production of electricity from wind energy in the Baltic Sea and thereby to increase the share of renewable energy sources in Lithuania's domestic energy production and in the final balance of energy consumption, an engineering infrastructure development plan has been approved at the state level for the territory of The Territorial Sea of the Republic of Lithuania and/or the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Lithuania in the Baltic Sea, which is to be used for development of renewable energy.

This spatial planning document determines the specific areas where offshore wind farms can be developed and operated in phases, reserving corridors for infrastructure and ship movements. The document also stipulates that, in addition to wind farms, other activities related to the production of energy from renewable sources (e.g. the installation of solar photovoltaic power plants, wave power plants, and current power plants) may also be developed in the planned area.

The approved territorial planning document is one of the preparatory works for the tender for a permit to use Lithuanian maritime territory for the development and operation of wind farms, which is expected to take place at the end of 2023, as provided for in Government Resolution adopted in 2020. The tender is planned to be launched after all the necessary steps have been completed, including the approval of the spatial planning document, measurements of wind speeds and other parameters, and seabed surveys.

The territorial planning document can be consulted in the Territorial planning documents preparation and territorial planning process state supervision information system (TPDRIS) of the Republic of Lithuania (http://www.tpdris.lt, TPD No. S-NC-00-20-411), Register of Territorial planning documents www.tpdr.lt territorial planning document registration no. T00088446, T00088446 here.

Inžinerinės infrastruktūros vystymo plano konkretizuotų sprendinių brėžinys (TIFF formatas)

GIS data of concrete solutions of the engineering infrastructure development plan (SHP format)

Interconnection special plan and strategic environmental assessment

In accordance with Order No. 640 of 15 June 2022 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on the Beginning of the Preparation of the Engineering Infrastructure Development Plan for a Project of Special National Importance, Preparation of the Territories Required to Connect the Power Plants Using Renewable Energy Sources that are Planned to be Developed in the Part(s) of the Territorial Sea of the Republic of Lithuania and/or the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Lithuania in the Baltic Sea to Electricity Transmission Networks, and the Establishment of Planning Objectives, and in order to create conditions for the production of electricity from wind energy in the Baltic Sea and thereby increase the share of renewable energy sources in Lithuania's domestic energy production and final energy consumption balance, preparation of the project of special national importance, Preparation of the Engineering Infrastructure Development Plan for a Project of Special National Importance, Preparation of the Territories Required to Connect the Power Plants Using Renewable Energy Sources that are Planned to be Developed in the Part(s) of the Territorial Sea of the Republic of Lithuania and/or the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Lithuania in the Baltic Sea to Electricity Transmission Networks, (hereinafter referred to as the engineering infrastructure development plan) and the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) are planned to be initiated.          

The tasks of the engineering infrastructure development plan are stipulated by Order No 1-233 of 18 July 2022 of the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania (link):

• identify the territories required for installation of the interconnections and related engineering infrastructure; 
• prepare the engineering infrastructure development concept. Prepare at least two concept alternatives (one of which must assess the possibilities of juxtaposition of the engineering infrastructure corridor (interconnections) with the corridor planned for the Harmony Link cross-border HVDC submarine cable between Lithuania and Poland) taking into account the results of the current state analysis and the proposals of the planning organiser, planning subjects and the public, and based on geophysical surveys of the seabed surface, the purpose of which is to determine the features of the seabed topography (prepare seabed bathymetry data and identify objects that may influence the choice of location for the engineering infrastructure corridors), performing them to the extent necessary to prepare the plan and/or its strategic environmental assessment (SEA).
• evaluate the concept alternatives in terms of national security and the natural, social and economic environment; 
• in order to select the optimal alternative, perform a comparison of the concept alternatives using cost-benefit analysis methods, among others 
• performing SEA procedures in accordance with the procedure established by the Description of the Procedure for the Strategic Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes approved by Resolution No. 967 of 18 August 2004 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on Approval of the Description of the Procedure for the Strategic Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes; 
• provide for the easements necessary for the functioning of the engineering infrastructure; 
• provide for protection zones for the engineering infrastructure structures and/or territories, and specify special land use conditions; 
• provide reasoned substantiation for the territories where land must be taken for public needs 
• provide reasoned substantiation (i.e. based on project proposals) for territories for the reconstruction of the existing engineering infrastructure, the routes of which would be crossed by the territories planned for the Interconnections and related infrastructure; 
• provide for territories for the conversion of forest land to other uses and for the revision of schemes of forest areas of national importance.