The wind power potential of Northern Ostrobothnia and the view of the most suitable areas for wind power construction have now been investigated. Sweco was a wide-ranging expert partner in the TUULI project. One of the priorities of the Regional Programme for Northern Ostrobothnia is to respond to the challenge of climate change and to develop the region towards low carbon. Climate change mitigation and adaptation require regional and local action. The promotion of wind power construction is one of the most significant means of contributing to these goals. The results of the TUULI project (Sustainable Wind Power Construction in Northern Ostrobothnia) will be used in the planning of wind power at the regional and municipal levels, as well as to support impact assessment and decision-making. The data are the starting point for steering the wind power construction of the ongoing energy and climate phase regional plan for North Ostrobothnia. - We want to increase Finland's energy self-sufficiency and security of supply and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through our regional work. We in Northern Ostrobothnia are at the heart of the energy transition and the green transition," says Erika Kylmänen, Environmental Manager at the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. As a result of the extensively participatory and interactive TUULI project, the wind power potential of Northern Ostrobothnia can be presented as well as a provincial view of the most suitable areas for wind power construction. In the TUULI project, several background studies were prepared, such as a green structure and ecosystem service study, an update study on the main migration route of birds, a wolf territory study, a landscape study and an electricity transmission study. Sweco was an expert partner. - More than 40 per cent of Finland's wind power production is located in Northern Ostrobothnia. There is space here, but many challenges due to nature and landscape values. The challenges of electricity transmission and the radar effects of the Defence Forces will also be met in many parts of the province. The studies of the TUULI project provide a good basis for the preparation of the phase regional plan guiding wind power construction, says Tapio Tuuttila, Project Manager at Sweco. The successful project also spawned the victory of Sweco's internal project competition Sweco wants to promote and highlight the excellent performance of Sweco's project teams with its own internal project competition. About 14,000 projects are carried out annually at Sweco Finland. Last year's best project was the TUULI project. The reasons for the win were, among other things, open and participatory communication, high quality of customer work and societal significance. - We would like to thank the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia for their excellent cooperation. The client had exceptionally strong expertise in the subject and it created a situation in which we tightened up each other and achieved a good result," comments Tapio Tuuttila, Project Manager at Sweco. According to Erika Kylmänen, the high-quality success of the work was also influenced by the fact that, as an expert partner, Sweco had local knowledge and know-how of the region's special characteristics. Additional information: Erika Kylmänen, Environmental Manager, Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, tel. 040 685 4041 Sweco is an expert in the built environment and industry, designing the cities of the future and …

The Sustainable Wind Power Construction in Northern Ostrobothnia TUULI project of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia will organise a final seminar as a webinar on Thursday 29 September from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The event will cover the process of the TUULI project, the results, the vision work carried out during the project and the connection of the project to regional planning. The speakers will be Sari Pulkka, GIS specialist from the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, Erika Kylmänen, Environmental Manager, Mari Kuukasjärvi, Planning Manager, and Markus Erkkilä, Planning Director. Outside experts are Mikko Heikkilä from Fingrid and Tapio Tuuttila, Jaakko Rauni and Johanna Lehto from Sweco. The comments will be heard from Mathias Holmén (City of Raahe) and Taina Törmikoski (North Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment) and the closing remarks from Pauli Harju, Regional Director of North Ostrobothnia. The aim of the TUULI project is to promote sustainable wind power construction in the North Ostrobothnia region. The project has drawn up wind power targets for North Ostrobothnia, carried out studies affecting wind power projects, developed location management for wind power production, and increased participation and interaction in the planning of wind power construction. The results of the development project can be used in the planning of wind power at the regional and municipal level and to support impact assessment and decision-making. See the webinar program. Direct link to the weninar. Read more about the TUULI project.

The Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia has launched the TUULI project, which produces new information on the suitability of the North Ostrobothnia region for wind power production and seeks solutions for solving environmental issues in the sector. The aim is to create conditions for the development of the wind power sector and thus for increasing emission-free electricity production in the North Ostrobothnia region, taking into account different aspects of sustainable development. In Northern Ostrobothnia, the previous regional wind power survey was prepared in 2010-2011. The wind power sector and wind power technology have developed strongly over the last ten years, which is why a new overall study is needed. During the project, wind power targets will be drawn up for North Ostrobothnia, location control for wind power production will be developed, and participation and interaction related to the planning of wind power construction will be increased. As a result of the project, Northern Ostrobothnia's provincial view of the most suitable areas for wind power construction can be presented. Erika Kylmänen, Project Manager of the TUULI project at the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, says: "The work will be carried out with a wide range of stakeholders, which will also create a commitment to realise the vision. The TUULI project steering group welcomed the project at its kick-off meeting. “The aim is to jointly promote the future of wind power construction in the whole region on a sustainable basis, taking into account local values. The project hopes for a high-quality vision to support location management and spatial planning in future wind power construction," says Mathias Holmén, representative of the Raahe region and planner. The wind power potential of Northern Ostrobothnia is very significant, and the region's industry has a great need for affordable renewable electricity. “Renewable energy is also of interest to hydrogen producers. In the coming years, new inland wind power capacity will continue to be built in the North Ostrobothnia region, and many municipalities also have significant reserves in marine areas. Wind power has a significant impact on employment and tax revenue for municipalities. Promoting renewable energy is seen as important for the future", continues Mathias Holmén. Tuukka Paahtamaa, Senior Adviser at the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia, emphasises the sustainable development of the wind power sector. “I see the importance of the objective of creating the conditions for the development of the wind energy sector, taking into account environmental issues and different aspects of sustainable development”. The results of the development project will be used to support the statutory location control (zoning) of wind power at both the provincial and municipal levels. Operators in the wind power sector can also use the results in their own planning work. The project is funded by the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia/the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the member municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia and the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. The total estimated cost of the project is EUR 392 136 and the implementation period is from 1 August 2020 to 30 August 2022.  More information about the TUULI project: Erika Kylmänen, Environmental Manager, Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, tel. +358 40 685 4041, erika.kylmänen(at)pohjois-pohjanmaa.fi. Figure: It's Erika Cold. Installation of the Mäkikangas wind farm in Pyhäjoki in April 2015.