Dec 19, 2024

VSB commissions 148 megawatts of wind power in Finland.

VSB Group has launched the 148MW Karahka wind farm located in Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland.

The facility, which is owned by the Finnish utility company Helen and the Bank of Aland Wind Power Special Investment Fund, features 25 wind turbines spread over an area of about 2300 hectares.

For the construction of the wind farm, VSB, Nordex, and their partners opted for an innovative design for the towers, each made up of 27 concrete blocks topped with a steel section. This design allows for increased hub heights.

The concrete components for these hybrid towers were produced locally by Lujabetoni in Karsamaki.

A collaborative effort between Lujabetoni and Nordex for the production of the Karahka concrete elements won the public vote for 'Wind Power Project of the Year' awarded by the Finnish Wind Power Association.

VSB Finland initiated the Karahka wind power project back in 2016. The construction phase began in 2022 after building permits were secured. In the same year, VSB transferred ownership of Karahka to Helen and the Bank of Aland Wind Power Special Investment Fund, while still overseeing the construction and commissioning processes.

Felix Grolman, CEO of VSB Group, stated: "With the commissioning of Karahka, VSB showcases its extensive expertise from project development and approval to construction. This remarkable team achievement highlights our role as a dependable partner in the energy transition. We are eager to tackle our next major projects in Finland, which are already underway."

Helen holds a majority stake in the wind farm, owning 51% of it. Pekka Tolonen, VP of power generation at Helen, commented: "The Karahka wind farm significantly enhances the emission-free electricity supply for both Helen and Finland. This advancement bolsters Finland’s competitive edge by reducing electricity prices and facilitating investments in clean, affordable power. The farm's completion also aligns with Helen’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 and advancing towards distributed, carbon-neutral power generation."

He added, "It is gratifying to finish a construction project that took around 2.5 years, meeting both the timeline and budget. What makes this project especially noteworthy is its remarkably high domestic content, with the concrete towers supplied by Lujabetoni. The collaboration with VSB has been outstanding, and I extend my gratitude to them and all contractors for a successful venture." Jimmy Forsman, portfolio manager of the Bank of Aland Wind Power Fund, stated: "Most importantly, the commissioning of the wind farm will allow us, alongside our partner Helen, to generate significantly more renewable electricity for the Finnish market."