WindWorks 2026: Linking wind energy and the blue economy through MarTe

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.

Participating in the panel discussion and engaging actively with industry representatives, Gatis Galviņš, Chair of the Supervisory Board of the Latvian Wind Energy Association, underlined that the next step is to better connect wind energy with the wider blue economy – from port modernisation and smart logistics to testing new technologies in the Baltic Sea. In informal conversations, he described himself as an industry enthusiast, inspiring companies and stakeholders to think more boldly about offshore and onshore wind opportunities.

As Gatis Galviņš emphasises: “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.”

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.

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. “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,” says Inese Skapste.

This approach makes it possible to translate the momentum of WindWorks into concrete cooperation pathways within MarTe – pilot projects, test environments and new business models in the Baltic Sea region, where wind energy becomes an integral part of a sustainable blue economy.