Finland has over 100 gigawatts (GW) of planned wind projects, according to data released by the Finnish Renewable Energy Agency, though regulatory challenges could limit the number of schemes that reach completion.
The agency’s figures show a pipeline comprising 60.8 GW of onshore wind and 45.8 GW offshore, while operational capacity currently stands at 8.9 GW. An additional 5.2 GW of projects are either permitted or under construction, with 8.2 GW still at the planning stage.
On the offshore front, 860 megawatts (MW) of wind projects have secured plans approved within Finnish territorial waters.
However, the industry has raised concerns over a proposed fixed-distance requirement under the Land Use Act, which could block many projects from advancing.
“The planned land use law threatens to stymie a large part of Finland’s wind power projects in a confusing way,” said Anni Mikkonen, chief executive of Finnish Renewables. “Wind power is currently the only way to quickly increase domestic renewable electricity production, which is a prerequisite for, for example, the hydrogen economy and the electrification of other sectors – i.e. growth investments and new jobs.”
Matias Ollila, advocacy director at Finnish Renewables, added: “If the prerequisites for wind power construction are destroyed now, in the worst case scenario, project operators will withdraw from the market and any possible return will take time and the projects will become obsolete.”
The Finnish Renewable Energy Agency highlighted that wind power projects could unlock significant industrial investments and bolster economic growth in municipalities across the country.
The evolving regulatory environment remains a key factor influencing the future trajectory of Finland’s wind energy sector.
