Rapsoil wind farm in Liepāja has killed more than 20 protected bats; authorities may halt the turbines

More than 20 bats of strictly protected species have been found dead at Rapsoil’s wind farm in Liepāja, more than the environmental impact assessment allows, Latvian public broadcaster LSM reported on 5 November. Experts consulted believe the real number could reach around 100.

What happened. The park lies between the sea and the Tosmare Lake nature reserve, on a bat migration corridor. The turbines have been in test operation since August, and the first carcasses were found in September. The State Environmental Service (VVD) and the Nature Conservation Agency (DAP) ordered the turbines to stop, and DAP imposed a €1,000 fine. Gita Strode, a director at DAP, says that all the country’s wind farms combined have not produced as many carcasses as Rapsoil did in two weeks. The company admits no violations and says it followed the approved procedure.

What the developer faces. Rapsoil could have to pay compensation for environmental damage; LSM cites an example of about €39,000 for ten dead bats. If deaths continue, DAP will refer the case to the police to stop the park entirely, and the company must submit an action plan. The Ministry of Climate and Energy says the project can be suspended.

Context. The project comprises 12 turbines with a total capacity of 57.6 MW, and in July one turbine lost a blade on the construction site, with no injuries, according to jauns.lv. In October the Latvian Wind Energy Association and the Latvian Renewable Energy Alliance condemned the disregard of the authorities’ decisions. They note that the project’s environmental assessment was carried out in 2009, with an opinion issued in 2011, and call for mandatory bat monitoring before construction and the same protection rules during testing as after commissioning.

What comes next. Spring is the peak of bat migration; if the problem is not solved, DAP may shut the park down completely.

Real-time data for the country is on the country page