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Wind power plays a key role in reaching carbon neutrality
YIT has taken major steps in wind power development. There are a lot of different operators in Finland offering wind power project development, but YIT is the only construction company among them. “We offer the entire package as a turnkey delivery, if the customer is interested.”
The Nordic countries are world leaders in the use of renewable energy sources like wind and hydropower. This is why both energy sources are strategic business activities for YIT that will also bring the Nordic countries closer to their sustainable development objectives.
In 2012, YIT began project development for wind power in Finland, which included wind farm planning all around the country. Up until now, YIT’s role has been in project development, which includes land leasing, organising projects and preparing zoning contracts. YIT has also previously built more than 100 foundations for wind turbines as well as other infrastructure, such as roads, close to wind power plants in Finland and Sweden.
In November 2019, YIT took an important new step and sold the company’s first self-developed wind power project to Suomen Hyötytuuli Oy.
“With tender-based contracting projects, we have generally wanted to carry out the entire contract and have usually included everything in our tender. In many projects, we have also built only the foundations. Approximately one third of all wind farm infrastructure contracts are like this and also include earthworks and electrical engineering,” says Mika Virtanen, YIT’s Project Development Director.
Virtanen emphasises that the Group sees great potential in wind power. Energy companies and foundations are interested in purchasing wind farms, seeking profits from what is currently the cheapest way to produce energy.
“We offer the entire package as a turnkey delivery, if the customer is interested.”
According to Virtanen, there are a lot of different operators in Finland offering wind power project development, but YIT is the only construction company among them.
Wind power is being hindered by complaints and slow permit processes
In Sweden, YIT built its first wind farm contract. YIT and Stavro Vind AB will carry out foundation work for a new wind farm in Northern Sweden. The contract covered the Balance of Plant work for a new wind farm, namely the turbine foundations and lifting areas as well as the wind park’s internal roads and cabling.
Both Sweden and Finland have ambitious goals in reaching carbon neutrality: Finland’s goal is 2035, Sweden’s is 2045. Wind power will play a key role in carbon neutrality. According to different political parties, the share of wind power should increase from its current level of approximately 7% to 15–30% by 2030, as was reported by YLE. However, in Sweden, receiving an environmental permit can take up to 10 years, the Swedish Wind Energy Association’s discovered. According to Virtanen, the largest hindrance in Finland is complaints.
“Currently, it’s too easy to slow down the zoning process by filing a complaint.”
This story have been updated 15th of January 2022.
