OX2 has submitted the environmental impact statement for the 2400MW Halla offshore wind farm, which is located in Finland’s economic zone.
This is the first environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure carried out in Finland for an offshore wind power project in the economic zone, OX2 said.
The Halla project, which is jointly owned by Ingka investments, is located in the Gulf of Bothnia outside Oulu and Brahestad, approximately 35km from the coast.
The project has been designed for a maximum of 160 wind turbines, an annual electricity production of an estimated 12TWh.
The EIA procedure covers the offshore wind farm, its internal electricity transmission and pipelines for hydrogen, deposition sites for dredged masses (some located within and some outside the area of the offshore wind farm), offshore power stations and facilities for the production of hydrogen gas at sea, submarine cables and a hydrogen pipeline to the mainland, as well as hydrogen storage and electricity transmission on the mainland.
In addition to the investigations carried out within the framework of the EIA description, a large number of technical investigations have been carried out to develop the project, such as wind measurements, mapping of the ice state and soundings of the seabed.
According to investigations and assessments, no particularly harmful effects on the environment were discovered in the planned project area for the offshore wind power project Halla, OX2 said.
This is due to the sea depth in the project area and the large distance between the project and the coast.
The field surveys carried out within the project, such as the species surveys, provide valuable basic information about the unexplored open sea areas in Finland.
Wind measurements that have been ongoing for more than two years show that the wind conditions in the planned project area are good and suitable for offshore wind power production.
OX2 also participates in the joint IceWind project together with VTT, the Meteorological Institute, Aalto University and other developers of offshore wind power, which investigates ice conditions and their effects on the foundation structures of offshore wind turbines.
The purpose of the IceWind project is to create the conditions for foundations for wind turbines that are suitable for ice conditions.
The results of the comprehensive greenhouse gas calculation in the Halla project confirm that the climate benefit during the project’s entire life cycle would be significant, OX2 added.
If the offshore wind power project in Halla proceeds to the permit stage, there will still be more detailed investigations.
In the same way, the requirements for safe shipping will be taken into account in the project development and will be specified in the following permit phases in cooperation with the authorities.
The grid company Fingrid estimates that electricity consumption in Finland can double by 2035.
Janne Lamberg, business director responsible for offshore wind power at OX2 Finland, said: “Decentralized and versatile energy production is Finland’s strength.
“Offshore wind power can play an important role in achieving Finland’s goal of carbon neutrality, strengthening energy self-sufficiency and, above all, enabling other investments in connection with the energy transition.
“The preliminary results of the EIA description for the Halla project confirm that we have the ability and expertise to develop responsible solutions for renewable energy even under demanding conditions.”
The owner and developer of the Halla project is Halla Offshore Wind Oy, which is owned by OX2 and Ingka Investments.
OX2 is responsible for project development tasks in the project companies. Ingka Investments is part of the Ingka Group, which also owns IKEA.
OX2 has a total of three offshore wind power projects in the Gulf of Bothnia, Finland’s exclusive economic zone: Halla, Laine and Tyrsky.
The EIA description for the Laine project will also be ready in the spring of 2025.