Sopi-Tootsi Green Energy Area Officially Opened: Verston at the Forefront of Estonia’s Largest Wind Farm
June 10, 2025 marked a major milestone in Estonia’s green transition: the opening of the Sopi-Tootsi Green Energy Area, located on the site of a former peat field in Northern Pärnu County. Featuring 38 wind turbines and a large-scale solar farm, the site now produces nearly 10% of Estonia’s total annual electricity consumption.
Verston’s Contribution: Engineering Progress, Sustainably
Verston Eesti led the design and construction of all road and square infrastructure for the project. The scope included 30 kilometres of roads, 38 wind turbine foundations, and the reconstruction of land improvement systems across 1,600 hectares. In the solar park area, which spans 110 hectares, Verston built a road network of approximately 40,000 m².
Challenging Soil, Smarter Solutions
The site’s bog soil conditions posed a technical challenge — and an opportunity. Instead of removing vast amounts of peat and importing quarry materials, Verston proposed a geosynthetic-based solution that eliminated the need for extensive excavation.
“The initial plan was to excavate the peat completely and backfill the roads with new materials. Instead, we proposed building directly on the existing soil using strong geosynthetics,” said Andre Mägi, Project Manager at Verston Eesti.
“This approach avoided the excavation and transport of around 500,000 m³ of soil, significantly reducing the project’s CO₂ footprint, logistics burden, and overall cost. It’s a scalable model for future wind energy and infrastructure projects.”
A Model for Energy Independence and Local Impact
The opening of Sopi-Tootsi marks more than an infrastructure achievement — it represents a shift in Estonia’s energy landscape.
“A wind and solar park that can power a tenth of the country is a game-changer,” said Andres Sutt, Minister of Energy and the Environment. “This brings Estonia one step closer to true energy independence.”
Beyond energy, the project is already delivering social and economic value.
“This project brings new life to a former peat field — with direct benefits to local communities,” said Madis Koit, Mayor of Põhja-Pärnumaa Rural Municipality. “It brings investment, creates jobs, and shows how environmental protection and local development can move forward together.”
Juhan Aguraiuja, Chairman of the Management Board of Enefit Green, added:
“This is a sustainable and honest model. Production happens here, investments stay here, and benefits flow directly to people through wind turbine fees received in the local municipality budget.”
A Strategic Investment in a Greener Future
The Sopi-Tootsi site is a nearly €400 million investment by Enefit Green, and now stands as Estonia’s largest wind farm — and one of the largest in the Baltics.
- Wind farm: 38 Nordex turbines, each 241 metres tall, with 6.7 MW capacity.
- Solar park: Nearly 112,000 Risen panels, each with 660-watt capacity, spanning 95 hectares.
Project Partners and Collaboration
- Wind Farm Infrastructure: Verston Eesti, NOBE, Connecto
- Solar Park Infrastructure: Verston, Rodina Europe, Energy5, Risen, Sungrow
- Supervision: Telora (wind), Infragate Eesti (solar)
- Financing: SEB, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank
- Wind Turbine Supplier & Installation: Nordex
The Sopi-Tootsi green energy area is more than a renewable energy project — it’s a national milestone. It showcases what’s possible when bold thinking, smart engineering, and shared purpose come together. For Verston, it’s another step forward in building infrastructure that doesn’t just serve today — but actively shapes a more sustainable, self-reliant tomorrow.
Photos by Jarek Jõepera