Renewables Finland, representing industrial-scale solar and wind power, has collaborated with the consulting firm One Planet (formerly Kari & Pantsar Co.) to assess the environmental impacts of onshore wind and solar power in Finland and compare them to other forms of energy production. The study shows, among other things, that even at its maximum extent, wind power land use would affect less than one percent of Finland’s forest area.
The results indicate that wind and solar power have smaller environmental impacts than other energy production methods. However, the industry remains committed to further reducing these impacts.
“The green transition must happen while safeguarding biodiversity; otherwise, we risk creating new environmental problems while trying to solve others. At Renewables Finland, we are committed to ensuring that wind and solar power development respects biodiversity and minimizes negative environmental impacts,” says Anni Mikkonen, CEO of Renewables Finland.
Assessing environmental impacts of wind and solar power
The study evaluated the environmental impacts of onshore wind and solar power in Finland using existing research literature, expert interviews, environmental impact assessments, ENCORE analysis*, and geospatial analysis. There is no single precise metric for measuring environmental impact, so the study considered the combined pressures on nature by examining the key drivers of biodiversity loss: climate change, land and marine use changes, resource consumption, and pollution.
“Wind and solar power development is expected to increase more than tenfold in Finland over the coming decades. It is justified to be concerned about its impact on Finnish nature. Replacing a fossil-based energy system with renewable energy is the most crucial step in combating accelerating climate change, which poses the greatest threat to northern ecosystems. As wind and solar power expand, minimizing negative environmental impacts and protecting ecologically valuable areas will be essential,” says Emma Kari, CEO of One Planet.
“The most significant environmental impacts of wind and solar power arise globally from the production of construction materials. In Finland, the most notable impacts are related to land use changes when building new energy infrastructure. The findings of this study provide valuable information for the industry, helping us focus efforts where environmental impacts are the greatest,” Mikkonen adds.
Wind power development in managed forests
Industrial-scale solar power has only recently started developing in Finland, and the sector is still in its early stages. Consequently, comprehensive assessments of its environmental impacts in Finnish conditions are not yet available.
In Finland, wind farms are typically located in managed forests, which cover over 90% of the country’s forested areas. These forests generally have limited biodiversity and are already affected by logging, which poses a threat to entire ecosystems. However, even within managed forests, there are ecologically valuable areas. Proper project siting based on collected biodiversity data can help protect these areas.
Even in the most optimistic wind power growth scenarios, the direct land use impact of wind farms and related infrastructure would affect less than one percent of Finland’s forest area.
Download the report on wind and solar power environmental impacts (in Finnish)
As part of this study, different energy production methods were analyzed using the ENCORE (Exploring Natural Capital Opportunities, Risks, and Exposure) tool. This tool helps organizations and investors understand environmental impacts and dependencies across industries. Based on scientific research and expert assessments, the ENCORE tool focuses on how business activities affect and depend on natural resources and ecological processes such as clean water availability and climate regulation (Natural Capital Finance Alliance & UNEP-WCMC 2024a).
Further information
Anni Mikkonen
CEO, Renewables Finland
Phone: +358 40 771 6114
Email: anni.mikkonen@suomenuusiutuvat.fi
Emma Kari
CEO, One Planet Partners Oy
Phone: +358 44 300 6801
Email: emma@oneplanet.fi
More information
