Metsähallitus and wpd start up wind energy project at Muonio

Metsähallitus and wpd Finland Oy are starting up a joint wind park project on Mielmukkavaara hill in Muonio, Northern Finland.

Mielmukkavaara hill, rising some 470 meters above sea level, is located at the village of Yli-Muonio in Muonio municipality. The hilltops are managed forests areas owned by Metsähallitus. The area is reserved for wind energy production in the valid regional plan for Northern Lapland, as well as in the outline of the provincial plans being drawn up.

The area suitable for wind energy production is about 350 ha and the parties estimate that the wind park will contain a minimum of ten wind turbines. The park’s total capacity will be at least thirty megawatts.

The first phase of the project will see the initiation of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and the planning of wind measurements. According to the project timetable, the wind measurements should begin in summer 2009 and construction at the earliest in 2011. Planning for the project will continue with intense co-operation with local stakeholders.

- Metsähallitus wishes to promote the utilisation of renewable energy sources and to study, together with those in the field, the feasibility of its areas for wind energy production. More detailed studies will be performed in areas which have been reserved for the purpose in provincial land use plans, says Antero Luhtio, Director, Metsähallitus’s Laatumaa business unit. According to him, Muonio’s Mielmukkavaara is one of Lapland’s most interesting sites and is thus an excellent location for a pilot wind energy project.

- We’re interested in utilising Lapland’s wind energy potential on a wider scale. The Muonio project is an important starting point for us and co-operation with Metsähallitus provides us with an important channel for communicating with the various stakeholders in Lapland. Our Group is also developing fell wind energy in Northern Sweden, says Esa Holttinen, Managing Director, wpd Finland Oy. The company has recently started up two projects with Sweden’s Sveaskog, a corresponding organisation to Metsähallitus.


Further information:
Director Antero Luhtio, Metsähallitus, gsm +358 400 459 969
Managing Director Esa Holttinen, wpd Finland Oy, gsm +358 40 506 36 32

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