The Finnish Government has today decided on the regulatory provisions on wind and solar power to be included in the new Land Use Act. The fixed 1,250-metre set-back-distance between wind turbines and houses would prevent wind power development in southern Finland and on industrial sites. The proposed rules for solar power risk constraining a sector that is only just beginning to grow, imposing unnecessarily heavy regulation at an early stage.
According to the Ministry of the Environment, wind power regulation will tighten significantly. The fixed 1,250-metre set-back-distance between wind turbines and houses is replacing the current impact-based approach with a much stricter model. In practice, the decided set-back-distance will exclude wind power from southern Finland and many industrial sites.
“This means that wind turbines could no longer be built in southern Finland or on industrial areas. Until now, distances in Finland have been based on the actual impacts of wind turbines, and now the regulation is being clearly tightened. A fixed distance requirement weakens Finland’s ability to increase domestic electricity production where it is used and needed most,” says Anni Mikkonen, CEO of Renewables Finland.
Electricity consumption is expected to double in the coming years, and wind power is the most affordable and fastest way to increase clean electricity production in Finland.
“Losing the wind power potential of southern Finland makes it harder to balance the electricity system and weakens security of supply. It is positive, however, that the Government’s proposal has taken into account the extensive consultation feedback—particularly the concerns of municipalities about weakening local democratic control over energy production,” says Matias Ollila, Director of Public Affairs at Renewables Finland.
Solar Power Regulation Unnecessarily Heavy
The Government has decided that solar power plants of at least 50 hectares must always undergo a zoning procedure. According to Renewables Finland, this increases regulation of industrial-scale solar power in a way that does not align with the Government’s objective to streamline permitting.
“The Government’s decision imposes excessive regulation on a sector that is still in its early stages. Domestic solar power reduces emissions, supports economic growth and improves the stability of the electricity system. A categorical zoning threshold limits municipalities’ ability to decide on their own land use and unnecessarily burdens local planning authorities already struggling with limited resources. This conflicts with local self-government and good land-use planning principles,” says Klaara Tapper, Public Affairs Manager at Renewables Finland.
The Government had also aimed to promote the use former peat production areas for solar development. The proposed regulation does not support these goals.
“An artificial zoning requirement increases project costs and makes it harder to build solar power, including on former peat production sites. Finland is only at the beginning of developing industrial-scale solar power. The sector needs a predictable operating environment that enables investment and supports the energy transition in a fair and regionally balanced way. Over-regulation unnecessarily slows positive development,” Tapper adds.
Further information
Anni Mikkonen, CEO, Renewables Finland
tel. +358 40 771 6114
Matias Ollila, Director of Public Affairs, Renewables Finland
tel. +358 40 124 7411
Klaara Tapper, Public Affairs Manager, Renewables Finland
tel. +358 50 304 8385
More information
