Wind Energy

Finland submit bill to boost wind power

The ministry added that the objective was to expand the use of wind energy. Finland has a much greater capacity for wind power than previously thought. A new wind survey shows that even inland areas could support wind turbines, but this is likely to spark argument of where the towering, noisy turbines should be placed.

The government’s official goal is to increase the use of wind power in Finland by twentyfold in the next ten years. According to a wind-mapping project by the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), this is technically possible, even further away from windy coastlines.

"In inland areas, if you build modern turbines high enough, it’s as windy as it is on the coast," says the FMI’s development manager Bengt Tammelin. FMI plans to open its wind-mapping data to the public online.

The government supports the construction of hundreds of wind farms. But heated arguments are expected to erupt over the placement of wind power farmsparks.
 
Wind power in Finland was 143 MW with 118 turbines in December 2008. Wind power is the most popular energy resource among Finnish public: 90 % of Finns would want further investments in wind energy in September 2007. In April 2005 the value was 88 %. In the Pori area of Finland 97 % of people supported wind power according to Suomen Hyötytuuli Oy in 2000.

Finland does not use Feed-in Tariffs, fixed premiums, Green Certificate systems or tendering procedures. From the European countries, Finland, Malta and Slovenia are the only ones (2006) that use only tax incentives to promote wind energy and other renewable electricity. In 2007 this includes only Finland and Malta.

Total wind energy production in 2008 increased by 38% compared to 2007. Energy in Finland is generated using a high share of renewables, mainly hydropower and biomass. Finland’s generating capacity is diverse. In 2008, 25% of gross demand was produced by nuclear, 19% by hydropower (it was a good hydropower year), and 31% from combined heat and power (coal, gas, biomass, and peat). Gross electricity demand is about 87 TWh and is dominated by energy-intensive industry. About half of the electricity is consumed by the paper and metal industries. About 15% of electricity was imported, mainly from Russia.

www.fmi.fi/en/