The Finnish Government on Friday granted permission for the leasing of water areas off the west coast of Finland to significantly expand power capacities of offshore wind power farms.
State-owned forest administrator Metsähallitus obtained permission to lease water areas at the Tahkoluoto wind facility near Pori as well as along the coast of Ostrabothnia, at the Korsnäs offshore wind farm.
Korsnäs is a major renewable energy project, and the first offshore wind power effort planned for Finland's territorial waters in the open sea.
It is expected to offer a nominal energy production capacity similar to the country's nuclear power plant in Loviisa, and the estimated cost of the effort will be between 1.5-2.5 billion euros, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
The Tahkoluoto offshore wind power farms' expansion will increase its current wind turbines to up to 43, and expand the sea area used by around 14,400 hectares.
The government granted Metsähallitus the permission following a presentation from the ministry.
"This is an historically important day. The granted permits are an important milestone for the development of offshore wind power in Finland and for increased domestic production of renewable energy in the future," agriculture and forestry minister Antti Kurvinen said in a statement.
"Both projects are also important with regard to the state's finances, as the lease income will flow into the Treasury," he noted.
