Finland will launch five competitive tendering processes for more than 6GW of offshore wind power along its western coast.
Zoning initiatives for the first five have been initiated by Metsähallitus, responsible for managing and developing state-owned areas within the territorial waters.
Two projects are planned to be opened for tendering in September-October this year and two more developments next year.
Decision on the fifth site will be made later.
The partners for the constructing and operating of the planned offshore wind farms will be selected through another competitive, open and non-discriminatory tendering process.
“The development of five new offshore wind farms proves that Finland is fully committed to increasing the capacity of emission free energy,” said director general of Metsähallitus Juha Niemelä.
“This, in turn, enables large-scale investments in green transition.”
The municipalities in question are Siikajoki, Hailuoto, Pyhäjoki and Raahe, Närpiö and Kristiinankaupunki.
Kristiinankaupunki and Närpiö will take the planning initiatives into the municipal process after the draft of Ostrobothnia’s provincial plan has been published.
The energy and climate phase provincial plan of Northern Ostrobothnia, covering the areas of the other municipalities in question, has already been published.
All sites have been identified as suitable for offshore wind power generation in preliminary studies.
The areas have optimal conditions in terms of water depth, geological structure of the seabed, electricity transmission alternatives and shipping routes.
The planned zones have also received permission from the Finnish Defence Forces.
In addition to the five projects that are being taken forward, Finland has identified two other offshore wind farm areas on the west coast.
According to the Finnish law, local municipalities have the exclusive right to decide on the zoning of their areas.