New coordination group to intensify national cooperation in promotion of offshore wind power
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment appointed a coordination group on offshore wind power. The group will maintain a situation picture for the offshore wind power sector and participate in the preparation of the timetables and selection of wind power areas, which will be tendered in territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone.
In addition, the coordination group will monitor the implementation of the action plan prepared by the offshore wind power working group. The term of the coordination group will end on 31 October 2027.
Other uses of the marine areas, maritime search and rescue, border control, grid connection options, environmental aspects and the market situation must be considered in the scheduling and selection of areas. The coordination group does not have decision-making power, but it may outline the direction of the activities.
As per the Government Programme, the Government will set an ambitious target for offshore wind capacity in 2035 and create a competitive advantage for Finland in relation to other countries in the Baltic Sea region. This will ensure that large offshore wind projects can generate energy for Finnish industry and households. The Government will also work to ensure a predictable and encouraging operating environment, along with smooth project development and construction both in the exclusive economic zone and in territorial waters.
The working group on offshore wind power appointed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment published its action plan on 20 August 2024. One of the measures proposed by the working group was the establishment of a permanent coordination group for offshore wind energy. In the working group’s view, it is important for the promotion of offshore wind power that territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone are treated as a whole.
On 3 October 2024, the Government submitted a legislative proposal on offshore wind power in Finland’s exclusive economic zone to Parliament. It aims to promote offshore wind power, clarify the regulation on wind energy projects in the exclusive economic zone, and ensure that the rights to the exploitation of offshore wind power are granted in a fair, transparent and predictable manner. The proposal also includes a new competitive tendering model for offshore wind power in the exclusive economic zone.
Outi Vilén from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will chair the coordination group. The other members will come from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of the Interior (Border Guard Department), Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of the Environment.
The permanent experts of the group will represent the Energy Authority, Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, Metsähallitus (business and public administrative services), Finnish Environment Institute, Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, regional councils in the coastal regions, Coordination Group for Marine Spatial Planning Cooperation, Finnish Energy, Fingrid Oyj, Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities and Renewables Finland. The coordination group will cooperate with the Provincial Government of Åland.
Inquiries:
Outi Vilén, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 016 (absent 10–23 October 2024)
Pekka Grönlund, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 064 815