According to a report commissioned by Metsähallitus, the Korsnäs Offshore Wind Farm would bring billions in tax benefits to the Finnish population and employ thousands of people during its lifecycle. Procurements resulting from large investments would generate significant cash flows regionally and nationally.
– The offshore wind farm would significantly increase Finnish green energy production at the end of the current decade, said Juha S. Niemelä, Director General of Metsähallitus at the opening ceremony of the Korsnäs office on Monday 14 March 2022.
Finland’s goal is to be the world’s first fossil-free welfare society by 2035. As the administrator of state-owned land and sea areas, Metsähallitus plays an important role in achieving this goal. It therefore aims to increase clean energy production, increase carbon sinks and reduce emissions.
Upon completion, the Korsnäs Offshore Wind Farm project would increase Finland’s wind power production by 5,000 GWh per year. At the end of 2021, Finland’s total wind power production was 8061 GWh. The project would thus significantly increase Finland’s emission-free energy production at the end of the current decade.
Major investment in the regional economy
– The Korsnäs project would have significant economic impacts both regionally and nationally during its lifecycle. During the entire lifecycle of the investment, Finland would generate a great deal of new turnover through direct and multiplier effects. Accelerating the green transition is also an essential element of Metsähallitus’ strategy, explains Niemelä.
-The new demand would include procurements made during use of the wind farm and the consumption of people working in the value chain of the project. According to studies commissioned by us, a major project and its indirect impacts would increase the amount of investments during the project’s lifecycle to about EUR 2.7 billion. Investments are divided into the wind energy project itself and multiplier effects in other sectors, Niemelä explains.
Taking all value chains into account, the total labour need created by the project in Finland would be significant. The need for labour will be greatest during the construction period, but the project will also create jobs during the three-decade production period. Local municipalities and the state would receive more than EUR 3 billion in tax revenues from the project and its multiplier effects. Offshore wind farms built within a given territorial water line pay their property tax to the municipality in question and the land lease to the state.
Partner selection in progress
Metsähallitus is currently seeking an experienced partner, both in Finland and internationally, to develop and build an offshore wind farm. Metsähallitus acts as a project developer in Korsnäs and will later remain the lessor of the sea area where the wind farm is situated. The state will retain ownership of the area. The commercial production of the wind farm is expected to commence in 2028 at the earliest.
Metsähallitus is responsible for managing state-owned land and water areas. Revenue from Metsähallitus operations is entered in the state budget.
Inquiries:
Otto Swanljung, Wind Power Manager, Metsähallitus, tel. +358 (0)206 394 643, email: otto.swanljung@metsa.fi
BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR EDITORIAL USE:
Korsnäs Offshore Wind Farm project
In order to increase fossil-free energy production, Metsähallitus is developing an extensive offshore wind farm off the Korsnäs coast. Once completed, the wind farm would produce an estimated 5,000 GWh of energy per year, which is equal to about half of Finland’s wind power production at the end of 2021.
The Korsnäs project will continue with extensive nature surveys in 2022. Fisheries surveys will continue into April and May. In May, bird migration routes and restricted areas will be surveyed, and resting (migratory) bird censuses will be conducted on land and out at sea. In the summer, vegetation and habitat surveys will be conducted out at sea and on land. In the autumn, we will return to monitoring the autumn bird migration and adjust the resting (migratory) bird censuses. In addition, the habitations of flying squirrels are examined and archaeological inventories are taken.
Metsähallitus is also looking for a partner to build 70-100 offshore wind turbines and operate the farm as an energy supplier. The nominal capacity of the entire farm is approximately 1300 MW. A single offshore wind turbine would have a capacity of 12-20 MW.
Metsähallitus’ new Korsnäs office serves as an information point for Finland’s first industrial-scale offshore wind farm, which Metsähallitus plans to establish in the sea area off Korsnäs, 15-30 km from the coastline.
Metsähallitus onshore wind power development
Metsähallitus is also a major developer of onshore wind power. By the end of 2021, Metsähallitus had been involved in the development of more than 14% of the wind power capacity installed in Finland. At the end of 2021, approximately 150 wind turbines generating approximately 500 megawatts (MW) of wind power were installed on state-owned land administered by Metsähallitus.
Metsähallitus’ Climate programme
Launched in 2019, our Climate Programme promotes the achievement of Finland’s climate targets and transitioning to a carbon-neutral society by 2035 by increasing carbon sinks, carbon storage and clean energy production as well as by cutting our emissions.
The Metsähallitus Climate Programme targets are:
• to increase the carbon sink of multiple-use forests by 10% by 2035 while producing renewable carbon stock for the forest bioeconomy;
• to triple the production of renewable energy in state-owned areas by 2030;
• to reduce the carbon footprint of Metsähallitus’ own activities;
• to reduce the negative impacts of climate change on biodiversity by maintaining and developing biodiversity in land and water areas.
Inquiries: www.metsa.fi