Domestic offshore wind power offers significant growth potential for Finnish industry and its subcontracting network. In particular, Finland’s expertise in the challenging conditions of the Baltic Sea and its ability to deliver tailored solutions during the planning phase are key competitive advantages. Renewables Finland (Suomen uusiutuvat ry) is aiming the industry to increase offshore wind capacity to 24 gigawatts by 2045, representing an investment potential of up to €60 billion.
According to Manu Grönlund, project director for offshore operations at the Finnish offshore wind pioneer Arenso, Finnish companies already have extensive experience in offshore wind supply chains – but there is still room for growth, especially in managing larger project scopes. Grönlund emphasizes the importance of the design and construction phases, where Finnish expertise stands out – particularly the knowledge of ice conditions in the Baltic Sea and the development of solutions suited to them.
“Finland has a strong engineering tradition, and channeling that into cost-effective, innovative solutions is a major opportunity. Building offshore wind projects in icy Baltic conditions requires custom-designed planning, vessels, and work methods – which differ significantly from what’s currently used in the North Sea,” says Grönlund.
In the future, Finland could become an exporter of offshore wind technology. According to Grönlund, areas such as ice loads, seabed conditions, foundation structures for large turbines, and offshore installation methods offer strong export potential for Finnish technology and expertise — especially to Sweden, Estonia and the Baltic countries.
“Many Finnish companies are already critical component suppliers for international projects. Finland also has capabilities in areas such as manufacturing offshore foundations and subsea cables. If companies can take responsibility for larger delivery packages, they’ll get closer to project investors and unlock even greater value from billion-euro projects,” Grönlund notes.
Arenson’s current subcontracting focuses on maintenance, servicing and various design tasks for both offshore and onshore wind farms. “The vast majority of our subcontractors are Finnish. We actively identify local opportunities and collaborate with several domestic companies — including on the Tahkoluoto expansion project,” Grönlund adds.
Finland can build 24 GW of offshore wind by 2045
Developing the subcontracting chain is also essential for achieving the offshore wind targets set by Renewables Finland. The association’s goal is to increase Finland’s offshore wind capacity from the current 44 megawatts to 16 GW by 2040 and 24 GW by 2045, unlocking an investment potential of up to €60 billion by 2045.
“Offshore wind power is a key part of Finland’s transition toward clean and self-sufficient energy production,” says Veera Villikari, advocacy manager at Renewables Finland. “Its importance is growing, especially in light of rising electricity demand driven by large-scale investments such as data centers and hydrogen production projects.”
Manu Grönlund is speaking today about the importance of the domestic offshore wind subcontracting chain at the Wind Finland Offshore seminar at Kaapelitehdas. The event is Finland’s largest offshore wind conference and brings together 200 professionals from the sector.
More information: www.windfinland.fi
Media contacts:
Veera Villikari, advocacy manager, Renewables Finland, +358 40 125 1825
Manu Grönlund, project director, offshore, Arenso Oy, +358 400 740 242
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