Twenty years of wind energy in Lithuania: from the first steps to energy independence

The history of modern Lithuanian wind energy spans two decades, with the Lithuanian Wind Power Association (LVEA) also celebrating its 20th anniversary. It all began with the little-known fact that the first wind turbine in Lithuania was initiated not by businesses or the state, but by the Catholic Church. Since then, Lithuania saw major progress in this area and is now considered a leader in the Baltic region in wind energy production. A green energy company, Ignitis Renewables, is securing the country’s energy independence by developing large-scale wind farms. 

“The last 20 years, and especially the most recent five years, have shown that Lithuania is capable of leading in the field of renewable energy. What was once considered an ambitious experiment has become the cornerstone of our energy independence. We continue to invest in the development of wind energy and accelerate technological advancements because, besides it being an opportunity to reduce dependence on imported energy, it also a strategic decision that creates new jobs, promotes innovation and ensures competitive electricity prices for the country’s residents and businesses,” says Giedrius Meškelė, Head of Renewable Energy in Lithuania at Ignitis Renewables. 

The importance of wind farms for national energy security 

It was not an easy road for wind energy in Lithuania. The first wind turbine in Lithuania was built by the Diocese of Kaišiadorys. The 600 kilowatt (kW) wind turbine, built in 2004 in the Kretinga district, was an investment by Dioceses of Magdeburg and Kaišiadorys. Sceptics claimed that Lithuania was too small for efficient wind energy usage and that such projects would not be economically viable. Over time, each new wind farm proved that this type of energy, besides being environmentally friendly, is strategically beneficial to the entire state. 

Lithuania had long been dependent on energy imports, but geopolitical challenges, particularly the unprovoked and unjustifiable aggression against Ukraine, clearly demonstrated that energy independence is not just an economic issue, it is a guarantee of national security. The European Union’s REPowerEU plan, adopted in response to the energy crisis, clearly emphasises the need to develop local renewable energy sources to reduce dependence on external suppliers. Lithuania is already leading in the speed of implementation of these measures, and the wind energy sector has become the main pillar of the country’s energy independence. 

“In recent years, new wind farms have significantly increased the local electricity production in our country. In 2024, a record onshore wind farm capacity of about 500 megawatt (MW) was connected to the Lithuanian grid, thus substantially increasing local energy generation. Due to these investments, in 2024 wind farms comprised the largest share of local electricity generation in Lithuania. They covered 27% of the country’s total electricity consumption. This metric places us among the leaders in Europe,” says Meškelė. 

Significant progress took place in recent years, when Ignitis Renewables began constructing in Kelmė the largest onshore wind farm in the Baltic states, where 44 wind turbines have already been installed, with a total capacity of 300 MW. This is a significant step towards complete energy independence as this wind farm alone will be able to produce enough electricity per year to cover the demand of approximately 250,000 households. 

Technological progress 

It is the development of the wind energy sector that helps Lithuania become one of the leading countries in Europe in terms of its onshore wind capacity. In 2024, the country, along with Romania, was leading in terms of the most powerful installed onshore wind turbines, with an average capacity of 6.3 MW each. This indicates that Lithuania, besides rapidly expanding its wind energy capacity, is using the latest technologies that enable more efficient use of wind resources.  

Moreover, the implementation of new technologies helps protect wildlife: “To reduce the environmental impact, Ignitis Renewables is deploying state-of-the-art bird protection technology in Lithuania. This system uses radar and artificial intelligence algorithms, allows real-time monitoring of bird migration routes and, if necessary, temporarily halts the operation of wind turbines. This technology has never been deployed before in Lithuania. It will help maintain the balance between green energy production and nature conservation,” Meškelė explains.