Wind power is being built with accelerating pace – municipalities benefit the most by also investing in education
Wind power construction is now more intense in Finland than ever before. At the beginning of the year, 154 new wind power plants have already been built. The temperate summer season is used in construction, and even more power plants are expected to be completed in the second half of the year than in the beginning of the year. The position of North Ostrobothnia’s as a leading wind power region has strengthened even more.
More wind turbine generators (WTG’s) have been built in Finland in the first half of 2022 than in the entire previous year combined. In wind power construction, a record of 141 new wind power plants was achieved last year, but by the end of June this year, that record was already surpassed, as 154 new power plants have been completed in the last six months.
In terms of capacity, this year we have already managed to break previous records. Last year, a total of 671 megawatts of capacity was completed, while this year the figure was 784 megawatts in June. During this year, wind power capacity has already increased by 24 percent of the total capacity at the end of last year.
North Ostrobothnia is still the most windy province and it has increased its lead. At the end of last year, 37 percent of the cumulative wind power capacity was located in North Ostrobothnia, and now at the end of June, 40 percent of all the capacity installed in Finland so far was located in the province.
“Although there is a fast pace in wind power construction, it is still not enough. Finland’s goal is to be carbon neutral in 2035 and the EU’s by 2050. To achieve the goals, it requires an even more intense pace of construction. Finland’s energy self-sufficiency is also a safety issue”, emphasizes Anni Mikkonen, CEO of the Finnish Wind Power Association.
The growing wind power industry permanently employs e.g. service and maintenance experts. In education, important areas are occupational safety and mechanical service and maintenance, hydraulics and the basics of the electrical industry.
“Wind power areas are often built in small towns where there may be a shortage of jobs. Wind power will bring new permanent jobs for decades to come. It would be good for the regions to anticipate the need for education with local stakeholders, such as TE centers and educational institutions, because there is a shortage of employees. This way, the needs of the industry and the municipality would meet”, says Anni Mikkonen.