The construction of offshore wind power projects in Finland’s economic zone has been delayed due to the government’s decision not to grant exclusive rights to Finland’s economic zone for the development of offshore wind power. This decision was made after 11 companies applied for exploitation rights for 16 areas in the Gulf of Pohjanlahti, with some areas overlapping with each other.
While some companies, including Finland’s utility wind and the Swedish OX2, raised concerns about the negative impact of this decision on their offshore wind projects, 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, emphasized that while the government supports offshore wind power projects, they must consider the wider impacts of such projects.
To address these concerns, a new law on offshore wind power in the economic zone is being prepared by the government, which will establish a tendering process for selecting operators for specific sea areas. The goal is to have this law in effect by the end of the year. Some industry experts predict that this new approach will lead to more efficient and sustainable development of offshore wind power projects in Finland’s economic zone.