Neoen, Prokon Set the Ball Rolling for Two Wind Farms in Finland Totalling 161.2 MW

French renewable energy player Neoen has begun the construction of the Storbötet and Lumivaara wind farms in Finland in association with Irish RE cooperative Prokon. The two firms have provided notice to proceed to Vestas regarding the wind farms they own jointly. The total capacity of the wind farms stands at 161.2 MW.

Neoen said that the Storbötet wind farm is located in the municipality of Uusikaarlepyy. It will comprise 17 Vestas wind turbines with a total capacity of 105.4 MW. The capacity has been increased from 95 MW that was originally planned.

The Lumivaara wind farm is located in the municipality of Hyrynsalmi and will comprise 9 Vestas wind turbines, with a total capacity of 55.8 MW. Neoen says that this wind farm was originally to be 53 MW. As per Neoen, the two wind farms will be fully operational in 2025.

Both projects are underpinned by 10-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Equinix. The PPAs cover 60% of the green energy and guarantees of origin to be produced by Storbötet and 80% of those produced by Lumivaara.

Neoen owns an 80% stake in each project, the remaining 20% being owned by Prokon. Alongside Mutkalampi (404 MW), Hedet (81 MW) and Björkliden (40.4 MW)  wind farms and Yllikkälä Power Reserve (30 MW / 30 MWh), Storbötet and Lumivaara reinforce Neoen’s rising status in Finland.

Jerri Loikkanen, MD of Neoen Finland, said, “With five wind farms and a battery to date, Neoen has the ambition to become the leader in renewable energy in Finland and will continue actively contributing to our country’s energy transition and to its target of carbon neutrality by 2035.”

Jakob Kjellman, Director of Prokon Finland, stated, “With the start of construction of the Storbötet and Lumivaara wind farms, we have achieved a long-standing goal. It shows the ability of the landowners and Prokon to come together behind a shared vision and proves it is possible to act together at the local level to deliver renewable energy for a sustainable society.”

The renewable energy sector is expanding swiftly in Finland and wind energy has a considerable share in making new additions. As per the Finnish Wind Energy Association (FWPA), the wind power capacity of Finland witnessed a 75% surge last year. Currently, Finland boasts of about 1,400 wind turbines that produce 5.7 GW of green energy that is enough to meet the needs of an estimated 5.5 million households.