The developer of offshore wind energy (OWE) and the Finnish Port of Vaasa signed a letter of intent concerning the construction, operations, and maintenance of the Tyrsky OWE farm.
The partnership follows a similar one between the two around the Laine OWE farm.
Tyrsky will be located 30 km off Kaskinen, comprising 95 turbines generating 6.0TWh/year (around 8% of Finland's electricity demand in 2023). Laine, situated 32 km off Pietarsaari, will have 150 turbines (11TWh/y).
The company also works on a third OWE project in the Bothnian Bay: Halla (35 km off Raahe, 160 turbines, 12TWh/y).
OX2 has signed similar agreements with other Finnish seaports: Kaskinen, Kokkola, Pietarsaari, and Raahe.
Mathias Skog, OX2's Tyrsky Project Leader, commented:
Ports are essential partners for the development of offshore wind energy, and their infrastructure plays a vital role in carrying out projects. The letter of intent gives way to a more open discussion not only concerning the needs and plans for offshore wind energy farms but also about the port's role and its development needs.
He furthered:
It is crucial for us to cooperate with local partners and, in this way, secure smooth construction and operations once we have come this far. OX2 is committed to developing offshore wind energy projects in the Bay of Bothnia, a critical element of increasing domestic production of renewable power.
Teijo Seppelin, Kvarken Ports' Managing Director Vaasa, also said:
We consider the Port of Vaasa to have a natural and significant role in relation to the operations and maintenance phase of offshore wind energy farms [...]. Our development comes from the needs of the regional industry and players that plan to set their foot here, and we strive to find development synergies such as the one now with OX2 and their needs. This agreement gives us something concrete as regards our long-term plans, but it is also important to think about the ongoing projects, e.g., how we can satisfy the specific requirements of offshore wind energy farms alongside the first phase of the ongoing expansion [lengthening the main freight quay to 358 metres, adding seven hectares of port areas, and widening the fairway from 100 to 140 m].
Photo: Joakim Lagercrantz/OX2