The EU recognizes wind energy as key to reaching the EU’s renewable targets as well as making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. A wind turbine harnesses the kinetic energy of wind and converts it into clean renewable electricity. Due to technological development and increased capacity, the costs of wind power have been noticeably cut down. Thus, wind energy is pivotal in the clean energy transition. (European Commission 2021.)
In 2020, wind generation met 16% of the electricity demand in the EU and UK, out of which 13% came from onshore and 3% from offshore installations. The highest shares came from Denmark, totaling 48%, with Finland providing 9%. In the same year, Europe installed 14.7 GW of new wind power. The most of new capacity was installed in the Netherlands (13%), Finland reached 2.1%. (WindEurope 2021.)
No Wind Power Generated in Päijät-Häme
Currently, there is no wind power produced in the Päijät-Häme region as confirmed the market analysis performed as part of RESINDUSTRY – Policies for Renewable Energy Sources in Industry project. At the same time, the analysis disclosed Finland’s potential for wind energy to be even higher than average in Europe, qualifying wind energy among the most suitable sources of renewable energy in Finland, besides biomass and hydropower. RESINDUSTRY has also explored the current and future state of wind energy in the Päijät-Häme region and outlined information on wind power projects that are under preparation. (Lähteenaro & Medkova 2021.)
Wind Power Studies in Päijät-Häme and Häme Regions
In Päijät-Häme (Päijänne Tavastia), Finland, two Interreg Europe projects, RESINDUSTRY and SME POWER – SMEs Powering a Low Carbon Future work together on energy issues. The regional cooperation is emphasized by a joint Regional Energy Stakeholder (RES) group.
On 13 October 2021, 14 members of the joint RES group met online to share updates on two wind energy studies, besides regular projects’ development and upcoming activities information.
Kaisa Torri (2021) from the Regional Council of Päijät-Häme, who acts as one of the main RES stakeholders, introduced an ongoing study of wind energy potential in the region. Since 2012, when the last study was conducted, wind technology has developed and new potential areas have been identified. At the same time, some places qualified suitable earlier, may not anymore meet wind and landscape requirements. (Torri 2021.)
More background on the topic was complemented by Eira Rosberg-Airaksinen (2021), from the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY) of Häme, based on their recently conducted wind power study (in Finnish) in the Kanta-Häme (Tavastia Proper) and Päijät-Häme regions. The study confirmed that environmental benefits are largely acknowledged among respondents. At the same time, opposing arguments included expected negative impact on the landscape, noise, reflection, and concerns for losing local recreational values and identity. According to the study, the biggest obstacle not to have more wind power plants in the region is local residents’ opposition. From the municipality’s angle, possible wind power plant projects must be aligned with its values and environmental targets, and fluent information inside and outside flow must be ensured. (Rosberg-Airaksinen 2021.)
Written by
Katerina Medkova works as an RDI specialist at LAB University of Applied Sciences and acts as a Project & Communication Manager in the RESINDUSTRY project. LAB is on of the seven RESINDUSTRY project partners.
References
European Commission. 2021. Onshore and offshore wind. [Cited 21 Oct 2021]. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/topics/renewable-energy/onshore-and-offshore-wind_en
Lähteenaro, P. & Medkova, K. 2021. The current and future state of wind energy in Päijät-Häme. LAB Pro. [Cited 21 Oct 2021]. Available at: https://www.labopen.fi/en/lab-pro/the-current-and-future-state-of-wind-energy-in-paijat-hame/
Rosberg-Airaksinen, E. 2021. Hämeen tuulivoimaselvityksestä. Presentation given at RES stakeholder group webmeeting on 13 October 2021.
Torri, K. 2021. 2021. Päijät-Hämeen tuulivoimaselvitys. Presentation given at RES stakeholder group webmeeting on 13 October 2021.
WindEurope. 2021. Wind energy in Europe 2020 Statistics and the outlook for 2021-2025. [Cited 18 Oct 2021]. Available at: https://windeurope.org/intelligence-platform/product/wind-energy-in-europe-in-2020-trends-and-statistics/
Links
Link 1. Interreg Europe. 2021a. Project Summary. RESINDUSTRY. [Cited 21 Oct 2021]. Available at: https://www.interregeurope.eu/resindustry/
Link 2. Interreg Europe. 2021b. Project Summary. SME POWER. [Cited 21 Oct 2021]. Available at: https://www.interregeurope.eu/smepower/
Link 3. Elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskus. 2021. Tuulivoimaa Hämeeseen? – Kanta-Hämeen ja Päijät-Hämeen tuulivoimatilanteen selvitystyö on valmistunut. [Cited 25 Oct 2021]. Available at: https://www.ely-keskus.fi/ely-hame-tuulivoimaselvitys
Pictures
Picture 1. WindEUROPE. 2021. Wind Power Numbers daily. Printscreen. [Cited 21 Oct 2021]. Available at: https://windeurope.org/about-wind/daily-wind/
Picture 2. Forson, S. 2016. 243138. Pexels. [Cited 21 Oct 2021]. Available at: https://www.pexels.com/fi-fi/kuva/taivas-pilvet-teknologia-teho-243138/
