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The new Government of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia began its work at the end of November last year. The work list of the Provincial Government has been filled with the preparation of the regional plan for the energy and climate phase as well as interest representation work. North Ostrobothnia plays a key role in Finland's transition towards energy self-sufficiency. The increased construction of wind power and Europe's only ready-made nuclear formula at Hanhikivi offer solutions on the way to energy self-sufficiency and electrification of society. Our region currently produces about 40 per cent of all wind power in Finland. The rapid increase in energy prices caused by Russia’s war of aggression has boosted the pace of decoupling from the fossil economy. Finland is planned to be electric self-sufficient from 2023 to 2024. Increasing energy production brings with it new branches of industry, such as the hydrogen economy, where there are huge opportunities for northern Finland. The new regional plan will enable an increase in energy production, but at the same time it will create rules for the heated industry. The provincial government is…

In recent years, the size of wind turbines has increased significantly in terms of transportation, which poses challenges to the accessibility of wind turbine areas, transportation of wind turbine components, as well as road infrastructure and other traffic. The aim of the study was to find the most transportable special transport routes to the areas of the wind turbines of the North Ostrobothnia and Kainuu regional plans. The study established the main routes for wind power plant transports, which were seen as the most important connections for special transports related to wind power construction from ports to wind turbine areas. The study also identified the main problem areas on the main routes and produced indicative information on the accessibility of wind power areas on the road network branching from the main routes. The survey was carried out by Ramboll Finland Oy. A state grant from the Ministry of the Environment for wind power construction has been granted for the preparation of the report. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia and the Regional Council of Kainuu have been responsible for the self-financing. Other financiers of the study were the ports of Kemi, Oulu, Raahe, Kalajoki and Kokkola. Installation of wind turbines…

The application period for projects under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the 2014-2020 programming period ended on 30 September 2022 in the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. By the deadline, 20 applications were received by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. The majority of the applications were related to the development of research, skills and innovation activities under Specific Objective 4.1. In addition, funding was sought for the development of companies' innovation activities, renewable energy and energy-efficient solutions. The applications applied for funding from the Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia for a total amount of EUR 3.678.153. Funding is available for projects amounting to approximately EUR 1.900.000.

The final webinar of the TUULI project of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia gathered an audience of more than 150 people on Thursday 29 September. The webinar went through the background, objectives and results of the TUULI project in detail. The webinar was opened by Mikko Heikkilä, Fingrid's Head of Unit for Strategic Network Planning, who gave an interesting overview of the near future and the distant future of energy production and consumption in Finland. Heikkilä emphasised that, especially in the short but also long term, lowering peaks in electricity consumption is the most important key to curbing the energy crisis.The webinar heard about the project's process and contents from Tapio Tuuttila from Sweco, Jaakko Raunio and Johanna Lehto from vision work. Sweco's experts underlined in particular that at the moment clean electricity is the best answer to the challenges posed by climate change and Finland is one of the best places to build new wind power at the European Union level,…

The outlook for the battery industry was extensively featured in the broadcasts of the Swedish public broadcaster SVT this week. The interviews were conducted in cooperation with Sanni Pietilä, Project Manager of the Interreg Battery Region project, who emphasized in the interview that battery education must be developed at all levels of education. Interreg Battery Region is a joint project in Northern Sweden and Northern Ostrobothnia. The project coordinator of the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region is Heikki Ollila. The main objective of the Interreg Battery Region project is to develop a cross-border competence-based strategy for the different stages of the battery industry. The idea is to offer relatively high unemployment groups a concrete opportunity to work in a new, growing industry. Watch SVT's story and video on the subject. Read more about the Interreg Battery Region project.

At its meeting on 26 September, the Regional Government of Northern Ostrobothnia outlined the objectives of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia for the 2023 Government Programme negotiations.    The provincial government emphasises northern solutions for security of supply, agriculture, climate and food economy. The operating conditions of Finnish agriculture must be taken into account even more strongly in the coming government term. Support structures for the agricultural environment must support active and sustainable production. This requires a strong and proactive influence on EU policies and a greater understanding of the specific agricultural and forestry issues in the region and their relevance and relation to existing climate objectives.    Universities and their ecosystems act as innovation engines in their regions. Adequate basic funding for universities and universities of applied sciences enables world-class innovations and ensures long-term research and teaching in Northern Ostrobothnia.   North Ostrobothnia is the key to Finland's energy transition. The Government Programme must recognise the importance of the region in renewable and sustainable energy production and…

The themes of the Northern Ostrobothnia Parliament have been confirmed. The theme of the event on Monday, 7-8 November, will be Northern Ostrobothnia, which is resilient. Tuesday's theme is the European economy and the cultural flow to Northern Ostrobothnia. Statements will be given by, among others, the Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, What Aaltola, and the Secretary General of KULTA, Rosa Meriläinen. Among the politicians, Tytti Tuppurainen, Minister of European Affairs and Ownership Steering, Petri Honkonen, Minister of Science and Culture, Jussi Ylitalo, President of the Regional Government of Northern Ostrobothnia, and Mari-Leena Talvitie, President of the Regional Council, will make their voices heard. The first day will be hosted by Sanna Keskinen, Editor-in-Chief of Kaleva and Hanna Honkamäkilä, Head of International Affairs of the Second Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. The program will be fully confirmed during September, after which we will post about it and open the registration on the website of the Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia. However, dates should be marked …

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 Northern Ostrobothnia, carried out studies affecting wind power projects, developed wind power production…

Change Now – well-being from nature!   The North Ostrobothnia Wellbeing Forum 2022 will be held on Wednesday 2 November 2022 from 10:00 to 15:00 at Pyhäjärvi Central School, Tunturitie 1, Pyhäjärvi. The forum is an attendance. The North Ostrobothnia Welfare Forum is now being held for the fifteenth time. The event conveys the latest researched knowledge and good practices, increases cooperation and partnership, and recognises successful practices. This year we will focus on, for example, the relationship between children and young people with nature and the connections between the environment, physical activity and health. The forum will hear about local good practices and, as usual, reward the well-being act of the year. The event is organised by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia in cooperation with Metsähallitus' Nature Services and the City of Pyhäjärvi. The forum is free of charge, including coffee and lunch. A free joint transport from Oulu to the event will be arranged.    The programme will be published in October. Participation Binding registration…

The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia invites proposals for the Organisational Act of Northern Ostrobothnia 2022. Proposals can be submitted between 1 September and 28 September 2022. This year we are looking for an action that has strengthened the well-being and sense of participation of the target group. An organizational act does not have to be an isolated act; it can be understood and interpreted more broadly. The award tracks emphasise the cross-border dimension and effectiveness, as well as the role of volunteering. The association that won the organizational act of the year will receive 1,000 euros to support its activities. The nominations for the prize will be made by 28 September 2022 by 3 p.m. using an electronic form: https://link.webropol.com/s/jarjestoteko2022 The applicant must be a registered local association. The decision on the organisation of the year is made by the Regional Government of Northern Ostrobothnia. The organisation act of the year 2022 will be announced at the Regional Parliament of Northern Ostrobothnia on 7 November 2022. The prize is now awarded for the fourth time. The message can be shared freely within your organisation and with your stakeholders! the Prize …