With the unveiling and demonstration of electric racing speedboats on the Lielupe River, a field trip to the construction site of the Laflora wind farm planned in the Kaigu Purvs bog in Jelgava Municipality, and discussions on the wind energy potential in the Zemgale region, International Global Wind Day was celebrated in Jelgava Municipality for the first time this year.
Global Wind Day is celebrated internationally every year on 15 June to highlight the importance and potential of wind energy. In Jelgava Municipality, the developers of the Laflora wind farm – peat extraction and processing company Laflora, in cooperation with wind farm developer SIA Windy – introduced the progress of the wind farm's development and offered an on-site view of the installed 140 m high meteorological observation mast and the wind farm construction territory.
“The Laflora wind farm in Kaigu Purvs is an ambitious step by Laflora on the path to climate neutrality – with renewable energy, we will be able to compensate for all GHG emissions generated in peat extraction and processing. However, I would like to emphasise that this is only the first step – through wind energy, we will create a Green Industrial Zone of regional importance for Zemgale in Kaigu Purvs. There, emission-intensive companies in the region will have the opportunity to become sustainable, and opportunities will open up to develop new initiatives and create new jobs!”, says Uldis Ameriks, Chairman of the Board of Laflora.
“It is symbolic that in June, when Wind Day is celebrated all over the world, we have started the development of construction projects for several sections of the Laflora wind farm. From concepts and various assessments, the project is now beginning to take on truly tangible outlines. We are also well aware of how important every 100MW of electricity-generating power plants is in Latvia at the moment, which is why we are dedicating all our efforts to ensuring that the construction, and therefore the commissioning, of this wind farm can take place as quickly as possible”, emphasises Windy manager Aleksejs Mitušovs.
The overall situation regarding wind energy development in Latvia and its powerful potential was outlined at the event by Toms Nāburgs, head of the Latvian Wind Energy Association: “The share of wind energy in Latvia's total energy balance must increase rapidly. This is not only a climate issue but also a matter of energy security. I see that instead of the current 2%, newly built wind farms could provide up to 15% of the electricity produced in the country within just five years. However, for us to really reach the production of the first kilowatt-hours, decision-makers must take prudent steps aimed at long-term planning, involving all interested parties. The Laflora wind farm will be one of those that will contribute to Latvia's energy security and the promotion of economic development, and it will also be a great benefit to the municipality.”
A novelty in speedboat racing – an electric speedboat created in Latvia for competitions
In order for the electricity generated at the wind farm to provide a benefit to the local residents in Jelgava Municipality, Laflora is planning various initiatives. On this year's Global Wind Day, a memorandum of support was signed with Normunds Degainis, a Valgunde-based master of unique electric speedboats, regarding the creation of racing electric speedboats and the development of this sports class. On Global Wind Day, the Laflora electric speedboat, created this year in N. Degainis' workshop, was unveiled and demonstrated on the Lielupe River. In the future, it is planned to charge the boat using wind electricity produced in Jelgava Municipality. The boat is made of a wooden frame and hull with a 48-volt electric motor; it is capable of reaching speeds of over 70 km/h and has a travel time of up to one hour.
Electric speedboats designed for competition, rather than just setting short speed records, are a sustainable innovation in speedboat racing on a Latvian, European, and global scale. Although the international powerboating association (Union Internationale Motonautique) plans to create separate classes for electric speedboats, in practice, such classes do not yet exist.
“The new boat will start in the Latvian Open Championship for speedboat racing this year, competing alongside internal combustion or petrol engine speedboats for young people aged up to 16. I expect good results – the electric speedboat is twice as light as standard speedboats, and after three years of experimenting with a prototype boat, I have managed to create a boat that is capable of reaching truly impressive speeds! This autumn, at the International Power Boat Records Week in the UK (Coniston Power Boat Records Week), the boat could even set a world record – it will significantly exceed the current officially registered record in its category of 41 km/h!”, says an undeterred speedboat master Normunds Degainis.