Offshore wind power projects in Finland’s economic zone have faced criticism from some players in the industry following the government’s decision to delay their construction. The government had initially granted exclusive rights to exploit 16 areas in the Gulf of Pohjanlahti to 11 companies, with each company reserved for a specific use for a set period of time. However, this decision was later reversed, and the government opted not to grant exclusive rights to any particular company.
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. Despite this, the government remains committed to building wind power projects in these regions while ensuring that they are developed sustainably and responsibly.
Kari Klemm, an advisor to the Ministry of Labor and Economic Affairs, highlighted the importance of considering the wider impacts of offshore wind power projects. The government is currently preparing a new law on offshore wind power in the economic zone that will establish a tendering process for selecting operators for specific sea areas. This law aims to create clear guidelines regarding the conditions for building wind power in the economic zone while prioritizing environmental protection and social responsibility.
Some companies, including Finland’s utility wind and Sweden’s OX2, expressed concerns about how this decision would impact their offshore wind projects. Finland’s utility wind emphasized the significant potential for offshore wind power in Finland’s economic zone and stressed the importance of a controlled approach to bringing project areas to market. OX2 worried that their projects would be delayed but hoped for minimal disruption to their timeline.
Industry interest group Suomen Tuulivoimayhdistys also echoed these concerns, stating that they believed that granting exclusive rights would have slowed down development in the industry as it would have limited competition among developers. They hope that future tenders will encourage more innovation and creativity within the industry while still prioritizing sustainable development practices.
In conclusion, while there has been criticism from some players in the industry regarding delays in construction of offshore wind power projects in Finland’s economic zone, it is clear that there is support from both government officials and stakeholders alike towards responsible development of renewable energy sources such as offshore wind power.