Press release

Fortum and Metsähallitus agree to reserve two sea areas in the Bay of Bothnia for large scale wind power generation

17 June 2008, 11:00 EEST

Fortum Corporation
Press release
17 June 2008

Fortum and Metsähallitus agree to reserve two sea areas in the Bay of Bothnia for large scale wind power generation Fortum and Metsähallitus (The National Forest Enterprise) have made a reservation agreement on the state-owned Pitkämatala and Maakrunni sea areas in the municipalities of Kemi, Simo and Ii for large scale wind power generation. Both areas have been marked as wind power areas in the land use plans for Lapland and Northern Ostrobothnia provinces. According to a preliminary survey, a 800-900 megawatt offshore wind farm can be built in the Pitkämatala area and a 350-400 megawatt plant in the Maakrunni area. The two farms' combined output would equal the annual electricity consumption of approximately 200,000 detached houses (120 m2) with electric heating. An environmental impact assessment will be carried out at the beginning of the project, along with a more detailed evaluation of the areas' wind conditions. According to initial estimates, the Pitkämatala and Maakrunni wind farms could probably begin to generate electricity in 2014-2016. “Fortum strongly supports the increase of CO2-free and renewables-based energy production and wants to be an active partner in meeting the challenging RES targets set for Finland by the EU. Our aim is to increase wind power production substantially by 2025. Besides Maakrunni and Pitkämatala, we are also interested in other offshore wind sites in Finland. We are currently carrying out a number of studies on wind power projects in Finland, Sweden and other countries where Fortum has a business presence. However, it is evident that a sizeable increase in renewables based energy production, also wind and especially offshore wind power generation is not commercially viable with current power prices. We consider that green certificates implemented at Nordic level would be the most cost efficient and hence cheapest way of supporting renewable energy sources for the consumers," says Vice President Arja Koski, who is responsible for Fortum's wind power investments. “Metsähallitus supports the construction of wind farms in suitable areas and, for its part, wants to promote the increased use of renewable energy. The Pitkämatala and Maakrunni areas in the Bay of Bothnia will now be the focus of an environmental impact assessment. This will also allow people living in the vicinity of these areas to voice their views in the matter. If there are grounds for proceeding with these projects, Metsähallitus will agree on more precise project-specific co-operation with Fortum at a later date,” says Director Antero Luhtio from Metsähallitus. Fortum Corporation Corporate Communications More information: Jouni Tolonen, Area Manager, Wind Finland, Fortum Generation's Renewables unit, tel. +358-50-5942261 Director Antero Luhtio, Metsähallitus, tel. +358-400-459969