Pohjolan Voima and oulun Energia to partner in a project to build a wind park off Oulu and Haukiputaa

Pohjolan Voima has teamed up with Oulun Energia to explore opportunities to construct a 500-800 MW wind park at sea off Oulu and Haukiputaa. The project kicks off with an extensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure. In addition to environmental impacts, also assessed will be the impacts on regional and national power production and transmission.

The project covers a wind farm to be constructed off Haukiputaa and the lines connecting it to the national grid. Pohjolan Voima has agreed with the state forest management enterprise Metsähallitus on the reservation of the planned areas for wind power construction. The general planning of the project will proceed during the EIA and will be continued and specified further once the EIA procedure is completed.

Decisions regarding project implementation and investments will be made when the necessary permits have been obtained.

Wind power for Oulu from the coast off Kemi to Kristinestad

Pohjolan Voima is exploring opportunities to build a wind park off Oulu and Haukiputaa to meet its shareholders' energy needs.

A major local power company, Oulun Energia is a natural project partner for Pohjolan Voima. For Oulun Energia participation in wind power projects offers the opportunity to diversify energy acquisition and increase the share of renewable energy in line with its strategy.

Through Pohjolan Voima, Oulu has access to wind electricity from several sources on the west coast. This year will see the completion of a 30 MW wind farm in Ajos, Kemi, bringing Pohjolan Voima's wind power capacity to a total of 50 MW. Oulun Energia's share of this will be around 10 MW. Also underway is an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure regarding a 200-400 MW offshore wind park planned near Kristinestad. Pohjolan Voima's current wind power plants are located in Kemi, Kokkola, Kristinestad, Oulu's Vihreäsaari, and Oulunsalo.

Site and size

The sites planned for the offshore wind park off Oulu and Haukiputaa are Nimettömänmatala and Hoikkahiue-Luodeletto. Both are located in offshore areas owned by the state. The sea depth in these is 3-10 m, with the area of Nimettömänmatala covering around 14 sq km and Hoikkahiue-Luodeletto around 52 sq km.

According to preliminary plans, the wind park will consist of a maximum of 162 turbines of 3?5 MW each. Of these 130 will be located in Hoikkahiue-Luodeletto and 32 in Nimettömänmatala. The combined capacity of the two sites can be up to 500-800 MW.

Each wind turbine will feature a tower reaching a height of approximately 100 m plus a rotor with three blades and a diameter of around 100-125 m. Each turbine will also be anchored to the seabed with a foundation structure. The turbines will be connected to the nearest main grid point on the mainland via a seabed cable.

The content of the EIA

The extensive EIA covers the impacts on landscape and seascape, the maritime environment, including fish and birds, the Natura area's conservation values as well as people's living conditions and the area's attractiveness. Assisting in the EIA process is Ramboll Finland Oy.

The area's planning needs are also assessed in conjunction with project planning, with the permits needed for the construction of the foundations and sea cable as well as the compensation procedure all processed under a permit procedure in accordance with the Water Act. A municipal construction permit will also be required for the wind turbines.