The decision by the government to delay the construction of offshore wind power projects in Finland’s economic zone has been met with criticism from some players in the wind power industry. A total of 11 companies had applied for exclusive rights to use 16 areas in the Gulf of Pohjanlahti for offshore wind power development. However, the government has chosen not to grant exclusive rights to any specific company for a set period of time.
The Ministry of Labor and Economy reported that these companies had applied for exclusive rights to use the areas for offshore wind power for 40-70 years, with some areas overlapping with each other. However, the decision does not prevent the construction of wind power projects in these regions. The government’s aim is to establish clear guidelines regarding the conditions for building wind power in the economic zone.
Kari Klemm, an advisor to the Ministry of Labor and Economic Affairs, noted that while the government supports offshore wind power projects, they must ensure that the wider impacts of such projects are considered. The government is currently preparing a new law on offshore wind power in the economic zone, which will establish the process for selecting operators for specific sea areas through a tendering process. The goal is to have the law in effect by the end of the year.
Some companies, including Finland’s utility wind and Sweden’s OX2, raised concerns about the negative impact of the government’s decision on their offshore wind projects. Finland’s utility wind highlighted