EPV Windpower and EPV Solarpower
In terms of wind power, 2021 for EPV included work on both existing and projected wind farms. Commissioning tests on the Paskoonharju wind farm in Teuva were started, as was the construction work on the Norrskogen wind farm in Närpes. Progress was also made with investment preparations for other wind farms and with the Teuva wind farm’s electric battery project. EPV Aurinkovoima continued the planning of the Heinineva solar power park in Lapua.
The Teuva wind farm was completed and construction of the Närpes wind farm begun
Wind power is an important part of EPV’s New Electricity Revolution® strategy and zero-emission energy portfolio. For EPV Windpower, 2021 was a year of both planning new investments and advancing ongoing projects.
An important milestone at the end of the year was the completion of the installation of the infrastructure and turbines for the Paskoonharju wind farm in Teuva and the start of its commissioning tests. It is EPV’s fifth completed industrial-scale wind farm. It produces an average of 400 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity per year.
“Commercial operation of the Teuva wind farm started in early 2022. All the turbines are now up and ready for service, but testing and fine-tuning continue,” says Frans Liski, CEO of EPV Windpower.
In addition, the decision to build the Norrskogen wind farm in Närpes was taken in June, after which construction work started. The swept diameter of the turbine rotors in Närpes will be greater than in Teuva and, when completed, the farm will produce more than 300 GWh of electricity per year.
In 2021, investments were under preparation for the Laihia and Simo wind farms and the expansion of the Metsälä wind farm in Kristinestad.
Electric battery in the pipeline for the Teuva wind farm
In 2021, EPV was preparing its first electric battery project, in which the wind power team was also heavily involved. The battery will be located in the Teuva wind farm and charged with energy generated purely by wind power.
“The electric battery will bring flexibility to the completely emission-free energy production of the future. The battery can be charged on windy days, and the electricity stored in it can be used on calm days. This maintains a balance between supply and demand,” says Liski.
Improved lightning protection for wind turbines in Metsälä
In September 2020, an exceptional and extraordinary incident occurred at the Metsälä wind farm in Kristinestad, when the blades of two turbines fell off as a result of a lightning strike. This triggered an upgrade of the lightning protection system, alongside which the lightning protection of the turbine blades was also improved. The work was completed before May, which is the start of the thunderstorm season in Finland.
EPV was involved in promoting offshore wind power projects
Offshore wind power and its potential have been a topic of discussion in Finland for a long time, but there has not yet been a real breakthrough. Once again in 2021, EPV played its part in promoting offshore wind projects. As part of the New Electricity Revolution® strategy, a dedicated technology team was set up to promote offshore wind power projects.
“At present, offshore wind power is still significantly more expensive than its onshore equivalent and investments would require public policy instruments to be set up. However, rapid technological developments may change this situation in the medium term, as offshore wind has the largest relative production potential and construction in Europe is concentrating more and more on offshore projects,” says Liski.
The development of EPV’s wind turbines over the last ten years
Wind power to EPV (GWh)
Monitoring of solar power technology continued
Solar power is an important part of EPV’s New Electricity Revolution® strategy. The economic competitiveness of this form of production has improved over the last few years, and this trend is expected to continue. In 2021, EPV set up a dedicated technology team around solar power. The team aims to promote the company’s solar power projects.
The planning of the large solar power plant in Heinineva, Lapua continued in 2021. It is EPV’s first industrial-scale solar power project. The aim of the project is to build a solar power plant in the Heinineva peat production area. The Heinineva area is large and open and almost unimpeded by shadow.
“Peat production in Heinineva is estimated to come to an end in 2023. The area offers an excellent potential site for solar power generation,” says Sami Kuitunen, Director of Corporate Relations and Development at EPV Solarpower.
Key figures for the planned solar farm:
- Area size 170 hectares
- Plant’s total output 100 MWp
- Approximately 200,000 solar panels
- Plant’s average output during its life cycle approximately 90–95 GWh
- Length of panel mounts 150 km
The project is expected to be completed later in the 2020s.
“The realisation of the park will be influenced by the competitiveness of solar cell technology at the time of building, the cost-effectiveness of construction and the shareholders’ investment needs,” says Kuitunen.
The design of the Heinineva solar farm will make use of the data collected at EPV’s solar energy measuring station in Vuorenneva, Alavus. The purpose of the work done at the measuring station is to clarify and improve the predictability of solar power.
