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WIND POWER EXPERIENCES FROM THE OSTROBOTHNIA

REGION

Pärnu 25.1.2012.

Sauli JänttiProject Manager

Technology Centre Oy Merinova AbVaasa

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Content

• Merinova and the energy cluster in Vaasa• Wind power in Finland and Ostrobothnia• Experiences

– Local benefits– Risks and worries – Good practices

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The City of Vaasa in the Ostrobothnia region

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Technology Center Oy Merinova Ab

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Technology Center Oy Merinova Ab

• Founded in 1989 • 28 public and private shareholders• 20 employees• Focus on energy technology, innovation

and business development.• Task: To help the energy technology

cluster to develop and grow. Availability of skilled staff, research infra, new products, demonstrations, etc.......

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MERINOVA OWNER GROUPS 1.1.2012

• Companies 16 • Municipalities 8 • Universities, Polytechnics 4

28

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Vaasa

Länsi-Suomen osaamiskeskus, Vaasa

Energiatekniikka Toiminta-alueena koko Suomi

WärtsiläWärtsilä

KWH PipeKWH Pipe

TecnomenTecnomen

IncapIncap

CitecCitecVTTVTTTechnobothniaTechnobothnia

Ammatti-Ammatti-korkeakoulutkorkeakoulut

Vaasa Vaasa universityuniversity

VaconVacon

OutokumpuOutokumpuABBABB

The Energy Cluster in the Vaasa region

• 120 companies

•Value of the production; 4 billion €/a

• 70 % export: Diesel engines, generators, frequency converters

• Around 10.000 employees

• R&D : 800 persons

EnicsEnics

The EnergyVaasa cluster in figures

• 120 companies• More than 10,000 employees,• ¼ of Finland’s total energy sector

manpower• Annual business turnover 4 Billion EUR,

with an export rate of 70%• Approximately 12% of Finland’s total

technology industry exports• Several global market leading technology

companies• More than 800 experts specialized in

energy related research and development

• 20 000 students in the region• Two of the three Finnish companies with

the highest levels of R&D investment, are situated in Vaasa

The technology industry in Ostrobotnia in a national comparison

For more info on the energy cluster, please see: http://www.energyvaasa.fi

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The new Mervento 3,6 MW turbine

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The new Mervento 3,6 MW turbine

• Direct drive, permanent magnet generator

• No gearbox => better reliability• Lifetime 30 years instead of 20

years• First prototype assembled in

Vaasa January 2012

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197 MW 2500 MW

Wind power production in Finland

Wind power projects in Finland: Over 10.000 MW

Wind power projects in North Sweden: Over 15.000 MW

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Local benefits: Employment and income• Vaasa specific: Employment and export 400 millions/a

from the regions (Turbine components and back-up diesel power to the US.)

• Construction phase: Regional employment effect of 3-5 years/MW

• Operation and maintenance: 0,3 – 0,4 years/MW/year• Land rent and possibility to income for the local

village community

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Svensk Vindenergi - Jobb i medvind

Employment effects from idea to ready park:

Exempel: Vindkraftpark 25 verk á 2 MW:Years per MW: Ex. 50 MW:

Turbin & generator 4.5 225Torn & fundament 1.5 75Montering 2.0 100Övr effekter; vägar… 1.5 75Effekter i nästa led 2.5 125(underentreprenader)Multiplikatoreffekt 3.0 150Total: 15.0 years 750 years

Strömsund (S) experience, Daniel Perfect 17.2.2010: Regional employment potential 3-5 work years MW50 MW => 150 – 250 work years.

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Svensk Vindenergi - Jobb i medvind

Employment effects: Operation and maintenance

Exempel: vindkraftpark 25 verk á 2 MW.

Years per MW: Ex. 50 MW: Ex. 50 MW:in 1 year: in 20 years:

US Energy Dep.: 0,5 25 500

EWEA: 0,4 20 400(Landbaserat)

Sv. Vindenergi: 0,35 17,5 350(Storskalig utbygg.)

Strömsund, Sweden 0,3 15 300(Land based, Own assessment)

Source: Daniel Perfect, Srömsund, in Vaasa 17.2.2010

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Some risks and worries of people

• Fish reproduction (Off-shore)• Birds and bats• Noise• Infra Sounds• Shadow effects, landscape• The price of summer houses will go down• More traffic• NIMBY – Wind power a good thing but not in my

backyard…• Reindeers are disturbed by turbines.. (Sweden)• Etc.

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New Facts available

New knowledge coming from impact research projects, for example “Vindval” in Sweden , http://www.naturvardsverket.se/vindval

The harmful effect often less than first estimated, e.g.• House prices do not go down• More marine life around off-shore turbines than

elsewhere• The reindeers like wind turbines (less mosquitoes

under the turbines)

MANY RISKS MAY BE REDUCED AND ELIMINATED BY GOOD PLANNING AND PRACTICES !

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Some good practices

• Open & trustful communication dialogue with the local community from the start.

• Local seminars with the latest research results to provide facts related to the worries are good

• Joint local ownership of the turbines or parks.• “Village money”, (“Bygdepeng”) or other benefits to

the local community – e.g. street lighting.• Good planning of the turbine locations important both

for minimizing the risks as well as for achieving good power generation.

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Problems with windpower planning in Finland

• No clear rules, officials have different practices and permit rules vary from region to region

• Permit process duration in Finland 5 years, in Sweden 2 years

• Ministry (TEM) currently investigates the administrative barriers for wind power in Finland, report ready by end of March 2012

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