Viru Nigula is a 21 MW wind power plant in Ida-Virumaa, Estonia. It is operated by Nelja Energia OU. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 18k homes (estimated). It ranks #11 of 18 Estonia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2007, it is around 19 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, wind supplies about 18.8% of Estonia's electricity; the national grid averages 319 gCO₂/kWh (59.6% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1022398.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Capacity provenance
The public capacity above is a source-verified 2026 capacity claim: 21 MW for Viru-Nigula wind farm.
GEM · 2026 · operating plant capacity
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000911964; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 21 MW, Viru Nigula is well above the median wind plant in Estonia (18.4 MW). Technically it is described as Onshore. Wind turbines convert moving air into electricity; output is variable and site-dependent, and modern turbines deliver some of the lowest-cost new generation on many grids.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Estonia wind capacity
- 7.7% of 274 MW across 13 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 2 of 13 dated wind plants in Estonia are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest wind plants in Estonia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Nelja Energia OU.
Local climate & thermal context
This wind plant converts the kinetic energy of wind into electricity through turbine rotors. It sits in a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 59.4°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 92% above the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 92/100 — this site sits in the top third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #6 largest wind power plant of 13 in Estonia by capacity.
Estonia has 13 wind power plants in this dataset, together about 274 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Aseriaru · Wind · 24 MW · Ida-Virumaa
- Fermi Energia nuclear power plant · Nuclear · 600 MW · Ida-Viru
- Eesti Elektrijaam · Oil · 1,369 MW · Ida-Virumaa
- Narva Ashfield Wind park · Wind · 39.1 MW · Ida-Virumaa
- Balti Eleketrijaam · Oil · 472 MW · Ida-Virumaa
- Narva HPP · Hydro · 124.8 MW · Leningrad
Location
Coordinates 59.4427, 26.7654 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Viru Nigula?
Viru Nigula is a 21 MW wind power plant in Ida-Virumaa, Estonia, commissioned in 2007.
Who operates Viru Nigula?
Viru Nigula is operated by Nelja Energia OU.