Metsähallitus and Enefit Green, a renewable energy subsidiary of energy group Eesti Energia (internationally known as Enefit), have agreed on the latest details related to the sale of the Tolpanvaara wind farm in Pudasjärvi after all wind farm permits have become final.
– We are pleased to see remarkable international player Enefit Green coming to Finnish energy market. Moreover, it is great that yet another wind farm we have developed is coming to fruition, says Tuomas Hallenberg, Director of Real Estate Development at Metsähallitus.
– We currently have 91 turbines installed on the state lands we manage. These plants have a combined capacity of about 250 MW and last year they generated about 800,000 megawatt hours of electricity, continues Hallenberg.
According to Aavo Kärmas, CEO of Enefit Green, the company is constantly looking for opportunities to grow its renewable energy portfolio in the countries around the Baltic Sea, including Finland. – The development of Tolpanvaara is a well-located ready-to-build project. In addition, expansion to Finland is supported by a good local investment climate and a stable market situation.”
According to Kärmas, the construction process in Tolpanvaara could begin next year. In this case, the wind farm would start producing renewable energy already in 2023. Up to 22 wind turbines can be installed in the farm, and its total capacity will reach up to 72 megawatts. The owner of the wind farm project is Enefit Green’s Finnish subsidiary Tolpanvaara Wind Farm Oy.
– Within the framework of the Tolpanvaara project, we are open to cooperation with partners and large electricity consumers who are interested in concluding a long-term renewable electricity purchase agreement, Kärmas confirmed.
Metsähallitus aims to triple wind power in state areas
In 2021-2022, at least 61 new turbines will be built on state lands. This time the geographical focus is in Kainuu region. Metsähallitus has earlier set a challenging business target to triple the wind energy nominal capacity in state owned areas by 2030. The target is strongly in line with the climate program of Metsähallitus launched 2019.
– Wind power is an important source of income for many municipalities and the market advantage of its positive climate impact has also been observed in several municipalities. Planning is cooperation with us and with municipalities and residents. In addition to biodiversity, the planning process also considers the possibilities of coordinating different industries and wind power, says Hallenberg.
Metsähallitus’ role is to develop projects ready for construction. This means that it searches for areas suitable for wind power generation, carries out environmental impact assessment and planning processes, draws up a plan for the location of power plants, designs roads and electricity connections, and applies for a wide range of necessary permits, e.g. building permits. Metsähallitus is also responsible for the costs of these measures.
– After these steps, we will tender for the project and sell the project rights. The buyer can be domestic or foreign. The land does not change ownership, but it is retained by the state and we charge a rent for it, which forms part of Metsähallitus’ income to the state, explains Hallenberg.
Further information
Tuomas Hallenberg, Director, Metsähallitus Property Development Unit, +358 (0)40 528 6069, tuomas.hallenberg@metsa.fi
Otto Swanljung, Wind Power Manger, Metsähallitus, +358 (0) 40 560 1715, otto.swanljung@metsa.fi
Priit Luts, media representative, Enefit Green, +372 52 33 014, priit.luts@energia.ee
Enefit Green is a renewable energy company belonging to the Eesti Energia Group, currently owning a total of 20 wind farms in four markets – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland – as well as 4 cogeneration plants, 36 solar power plants, a pellet plant and a hydroelectric power plant. The increase in renewable energy production will contribute to Eesti Energia’s strategic goal of producing 43 percent of electricity and heat from renewable sources in 2024.
The task of Finnish state-owned Metsähallitus is to set aside and refine state-owned areas under its control to make them suitable for wind power activities, as well as active project development and the rental of land. Metsähallitus grants the right to build wind power plants on the basis of reservation and right of use agreements. Metsähallitus itself does not own the power plants.