WindWorks 2026 highlighted links between wind energy and the blue economy

WindWorks 2026 in Riga brought together wind energy experts, policy makers and investors to highlight wind power as one of the cornerstones of the Baltic region’s economic growth and energy security.

A key message from the event was the need to better connect wind energy with the wider blue economy — from port modernisation and smart logistics to testing new technologies in the Baltic Sea.

This creates a natural synergy with the MarTe – Marine Technology Excellence Hub for Sustainable Blue Economy in the Baltics project, which builds a cross-border innovation ecosystem between Estonia and Latvia. MarTe focuses on marine technologies, coastal and port infrastructure, offshore energy, green hydrogen and smart solutions for sustainable blue growth, bringing together research organisations, industry, public authorities and NGOs.

The event was also relevant for MarTe as an external ecosystem platform where project-related themes were actively discussed and where MarTe partners, including the Estonian Environmental Investment Centre, the Freeport of Ventspils Authority and the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, were present.

As Gatis Galviņš, Chair of the Supervisory Board of the Latvian Wind Energy Association, emphasised:
“WindWorks showed that wind energy in the Baltics is no longer just about isolated projects – it is becoming a foundation for a new wave of industrial development. The MarTe initiative is a vital link in this chain, as it helps connect wind energy with marine technologies, smart ports and an innovation ecosystem that creates new opportunities for companies and regions across the Baltic Sea region.”

On the Latvian side, the MarTe project is coordinated by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), with blue economy expert Inese Skapste acting as Strategic Manager of Horizon Europe projects.

As Inese Skapste noted:
“Our goal in MarTe is to ensure that marine technologies, wind energy and port development are not separate stories, but a connected innovation space where companies can test solutions, find partners and scale their ideas to international markets.”

The discussions at WindWorks 2026 highlighted the growing importance of cooperation between wind energy, marine technologies, ports and innovation actors across the Baltic Sea region. In this context, the event reflected the wider goals of MarTe in supporting a more connected and sustainable blue economy.