05 October 2009
wpd files application for Finland’s first offshore wind farm
Bremen - wpd has applied for water permit for Suurhiekka offshore wind farm of 400 MW, which would provide 350 000 households with clean electricity. Construction phase is expected to start in 2013
After having signed an exclusive lease agreement for the area in 2007, wpd has now reached the project’s next major milestone. The Water permit now filed is a precondition for construction and includes two years of intensive site investigations. The wind measurements for the wind farm were started in September.
– "These are very important milestones for us as we are working hard to achieve our goal: to build 1000 MW wind power in Finland by 2020. In a few years the Suurhiekka project puts us 400 MW closer to the goal" says Esa Holttinen, the Managing Director of wpd Finland Oy.
– "We believe that Finland has great potentials in the future offshore market. We hope that the new onshore feed-in tariff is the starting point for a discussion about the necessary economic framework for offshore in Finland. Offshore will be needed if we are aiming to reach the EU 2020 targets and is a major chance for the Finnish industry" says Achim Berge, Managing Director of wpd offshore GmbH.
Facts about Suurhiekka offshore wind farm:
The wind farm is located in Suurhiekka area, Gulf of Bothnia. Within the design field, there is an opportunity to build a wind farm of 80 turbines with a combined power of 400 MW. The estimated annual production is expected to be 1, 5 TWh, which equals to annual electricity for 350 000 households. The construction phase is expected to start in the year 2013.
About wpd
wpd Finland Oy with headquarters in Espoo, is a subsidiary within wpd group - one of Europe's leading wind power developers. wpd has
experience in development, construction, financing and operation of 1 600 wind power plants in Europe with a total capacity of 2 000 MW.
More information about wpd visit http://www.wpd.fi
Bremen, October 5, 2009
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wpd think energy GmbH & Co. KG
Mr. Christian Schnibbe, Manager PR & Marketing
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Fax: 0421 - 168 66 66
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Esa Holttinen, Managing Director of wpd Finland Oy
Tel: +358 40 506 3632
E-Mail: mailto:e.holttinen@wpd.fi
Achim Berge, Managing Director of wpd Offshore GmbH
Tel: +468 8 5010 9151
E-Mail: mailto:a.berge@wpd.se
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