Ilmatar Offshore has contracted Ramboll to survey a new offshore wind site off Finland.
Ilmatar Offshore has been granted a survey permit for the new 1.2GW offshore wind project area Vågskär in the Finnish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and has contracted Ramboll Finland to carry out the environmental impact assessment.
Vågskär is located in the southern part of the Bothnian Sea, about 65km west of Uusikaupunki, and about 30km north of Åland. It will host 15MW turbines over an area covering over 360 square kilometres.
A positive statement for further studies was delivered from the Finnish Defence Forces in August 2022, and last week the seabed survey permit was granted by the Finnish Ministry of Employment and Economy.
“In the EIA, impacts to sea nature and other potential impacts will be identified and assessed thoroughly,” said marine biologist and leading environmental consultant Sanna Sopanen, from Ramboll Finland.
“Cumulative impacts with other projects and potential transboundary impacts to other countries will be an essential part of the Vågskär EIA.”
As part of the EIA process, several field surveys, marine archaeological and biological investigations are carried out to map species that occur in the area, which ecosystems need to be considered and what environmental impacts the wind farm has during the construction, operation and dismantling phase.
Also examined are the geophysical character of the site, i.e. the depth of the seabed, sediment type
The Vågskär area is optimally located close to Ilmatar Offshore’s Stormskär and Väderskär project zones in Åland’s territorial waters. Technical and environmental studies will be conducted in 2023 and 2024.
According to the preliminary schedule, the EIA work for Vågskär will be finalised in mid-2025.