Festival Savos Bangos, a gathering focused on sustainability, took place in Klaipėda, drawing both local residents and visitors from across Lithuania. The event featured discussions, educational programs, and art projects centered around environmental protection.
Olga Žalienė, Director of the Lithuanian Sea Museum, expressed satisfaction with the festival’s growth and its role in promoting sustainability. She highlighted the museum’s efforts to conserve energy by using renewable sources: “Water is reused constantly in both the dolphinarium and aquariums… we acquired a remote solar farm eighteen months ago.”
Žalienė noted that renewable energy covers half of the museum’s electricity needs and expressed interest in offshore wind power: “I would love if the other half of our electricity demand would be covered by offshore wind.”
Agnė Lukoševičienė from Ignitis Renewables emphasized public engagement in renewable projects. She stated that local communities benefit economically from wind farms: “Lithuania having its offshore wind farm would mean a remarkable technological progress.”
Lukoševičienė referenced Denmark’s Vindeby wind farm as an example of successful offshore installations contributing to biodiversity. Research showed wildlife returning to these areas due to low human disturbance.
Dr. Vaida Survilienė from Vilnius University discussed how marine animals like seals are attracted to wind turbines: “Wind turbines create a kind of artificial reef that provides food resources for mammals.”
The festival included various activities such as art workshops, quizzes, concerts, and performances. A highlight was a virtual reality film about the Baltic Sea’s future created by Vilius Petrauskas with input from museum scientists.
The event concluded with a concert featuring cello ensemble Voiceless and composer Jievaras Jasinskis interpreting Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis’s symphony “The Sea.”
