Prince William visited Sunly to examine how hybrid energy parks are strengthening energy security and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The visit, part of his tour including meetings with British troops under NATO's Operation Cabrit, comes weeks after the Baltic states permanently disconnected from the Russian power grid and integrated with the European system.
"The visit was organized in collaboration with the Estonian Cleantech Association, whose members—SkyCorp Technologies, UP Catalyst, and RoofitSolar—also had the opportunity to present their activities to the Prince and the media in attendance."
Sunly’s Hybrid approach to energy security
The hybrid park concept combines solar, wind and battery storage in a single location to maximise efficiency and eliminate wastage. "Wind and solar energy are complementary as they peak at different times," said Martin Kruus, Sunly's co-founder and Chairman of the Board. "By co-locating these different energy sources, the overall energy output becomes more stable and increases to 50%, compared to just 15% for solar-only or 30% for standalone wind farms."
At Sunly’s offices, Prince William was shown the model for the company's flagship Risti Energy Park, a €335 million investment representing the largest solar installation in the Baltics, which exemplifies their hybrid model. The 244MW facility combines solar generation and storage and has the infrastructure to easily integrate wind power. Once completed, it can cover approximately 7% of Estonia's total electricity consumption.
During his visit, the Prince was briefed on how Sunly is working with authorities to implement zonal pricing, allowing businesses and households near energy parks to pay up to 50% less for electricity. This encourages investment in rural areas where the parks are located. Sunly is already in discussions with global manufacturers and data centres considering entering the market to benefit from low-cost renewable power.
“The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the vulnerabilities of energy systems reliant on fossil fuel imports,” said Priit Lepasepp, Sunly’s co-founder and CEO. “What we're building here isn't just energy infrastructure—it's a green shield for national security. Unlike gas, which depends on global supply chains, solar and wind continue generating power even when infrastructure is damaged. The Risti Energy Park is designed to maintain a limited power supply even in worst-case scenarios – such as war or extreme weather conditions.”
