Projects In Development
WindForge is developing two high-impact industrial projects that build on Latvia’s natural advantages and align with Europe’s priorities in food security, circular bioeconomy, and low-carbon industry. Our main focus is the Lielbāta Freshwater Atlantic Salmon & Collagen Project, supported by early-stage work in green steel and circular materials.
Lielbāta Freshwater Atlantic Salmon & Collagen
Atlantic salmon raised entirely in natural spring water — clean, stable, and built for the next generation of aquaculture
WindForge is developing a new freshwater-only approach to Atlantic salmon farming at Lielbāta, where the fish grow from egg to harvest in cold, stable spring water. The project uses a rare freshwater Atlantic salmon strain that never requires a seawater phase and avoids the stress, parasites, and biological risks typical of conventional salmon farming.
This results in one of the cleanest and most controlled salmon production environments in Europe — with predictable biology, simplified engineering, and a premium-quality fillet recognised for its firm, wild-like structure.
What defines the Lielbāta salmon
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Our salmon has never been in the sea.
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Our salmon has never been exposed to marine microplastics.
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Our salmon grows in natural spring water from day one.
Cold-water conditions (7–11°C) shape the fish slowly and evenly, creating dense muscle fibres, clean flavour, and consistent premium quality.
Why this freshwater model matters
Instead of switching between freshwater and seawater, the fish live their entire life in one stable environment.
This means:
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no smoltification stress
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no sea lice or seawater pathogens
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no salinity shocks
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one unified RAS configuration with lower operational risk
It is a quieter, more predictable biological and technical model — and one better suited for high consistency.
Value beyond the fillet
Because the fish live entirely in controlled freshwater, their skins create a unique raw material for high-purity type I & III salmon collagen with zero microplastic exposure. This places the project at the intersection of premium food, beauty, and bioeconomy markets.
Sustainability and regional strength
Lielbāta’s salmon project is designed around renewable energy, a local feed base (rapeseed, peas, grains), and a closed water-recirculation system with one of the lowest emission profiles in the industry — targeting a reduction from 7.5 kg to 2.5 kg CO₂ per 1 kg of salmon.
It directly supports EU priorities in food security, clean aquaculture, decarbonisation, and the circular economy.
GREEN STEEL AND CIRCULAR MATERIALS PATHWAY
Exploring clean materials production for a future Baltic industrial base
In parallel, WindForge is assessing a long-term pathway into low-carbon steel and circular materials. The focus is on renewable-powered metal production, integration with emerging Baltic hydrogen and energy assets, and models that reduce emissions and reliance on imported virgin materials.
While early-stage, this work positions WindForge within the broader European transition toward clean industry.
Development focus areas:
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Green steel concept: Hydrogen-based production and reduced-emission processes.
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Renewable integration: Wind, solar, and grid-based clean energy for industrial loads.
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Regional industrial alignment: Supporting future hydrogen, logistics, and heavy-industry clusters.
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EU strategic fit: Matches industrial decarbonisation, strategic autonomy, and clean materials policy.