Press release

Fortum plans to build wind power on the island of Bergö in Finland

06 April 2009, 10:05 EEST

Fortum Corporation
Press release
6.4.2009

Fortum plans to build wind power on the island of Bergö in Finland Fortum is investigating the possibility of building five wind power stations on the island of Bergö in the municipality of Maalahti in Finland. Negotiations with land owners, including the municipality of Maalahti, have produced a positive result. Negotiations on assessing the environmental impact of wind power stations have been started with the West Finland Regional Environment Centre. The total capacity of the wind power stations will be 15 - 20 megawatts equalling the annual electricity consumption of approximately 2,000- 2,700 detached houses with electric heating. The leased area in the wooded south-western centre of the island of Bergö has been marked as an area suitable for wind power production in the regional land use plan of Ostrobothnia. "We have leased over 30 hectares through preliminary contracts with land owners. Wind power plant foundations, installation extensions and the necessary roads will be built in the area. Usage of the rest of the leased land area will remain unchanged. The wind power plants are to be located as far away from populated areas as possible, at least half kilometre, to minimise impact on the environment," says Manager Sebastian Johansen from Fortum's wind power unit. If the municipality of Maalahti and other authorities grant the necessary permissions, building the foundations of the wind power plants can start in 2012-2013. The wind power plants would start producing electricity approximately two years after this. 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. Fortum's aim is to increase wind power production substantially by 2025. Fortum Corporation Corporate Communications Further information: Sebastian Johansen, Manager, wind power unit, Fortum Generation, tel. +358 40 354 3683.