The construction of wind power in Finland is progressing rapidly, with predictions that it will become the largest form of renewable energy in the country this year, according to the Wind Power Association’s half-yearly statistics. Last year, hydropower was the most widely used form of renewable electricity production in Finland, accounting for 18.8 percent of the total share, while wind power covered 18.1 percent of all electricity consumption.
As of the end of June, there were 1,660 wind turbines operating in Finland, with 60 of them commissioned this year. The existing power plants produce over 7,000 megawatts of energy, and with new plants set to be completed later this year, wind power is expected to produce 8,000 megawatts of energy.
Despite the positive outlook for wind power construction, the high interest rates and construction costs are causing delays in new investment decisions. The Finnish Wind Energy Association’s CEO, Anni Mikkonen, expressed concern about the impact of these delays on future electricity consumption.
While more than half of Finnish wind turbines are located in Ostrobothnia, there has been an increase in wind power construction in Central Finland and Satakunta this year. Mikkonen also highlighted the potential for wind power development in Eastern Finland, emphasizing the benefits of large investments in the region.
The recent working group report on wind power in Eastern Finland suggests that although investing in wind power in this region is challenging and costly, it is feasible and could help strengthen the vitality of the area in the long term. Mikkonen emphasized the positive impact that large investments in wind power could have on Eastern Finland’s economic development.