Construction of Finland’s largest onshore wind farm progresses on schedule in Lestijärvi
Construction of Finland’s largest onshore wind farm is progressing on schedule in Lestijärvi, Central Ostrobothnia. The project will consist of 69 turbines with a total capacity of 455 megawatts. Most of the turbines will have a hub height of 155 meters, with a few being slightly lower, while the maximum height will reach between 230 and 240 meters.
Jommi Tervo, project manager at wind energy company OX2, refrained from speculating on whether Finland will see similarly large wind projects in the future. He stated, “The future will show, but let’s enjoy this top podium position for now.” Currently, the wind turbines are being pre-assembled, which involves erecting two or three tower segments in advance to ease the lifting process when hoisting the full turbine with its blades to height.
The wind farm is divided into three areas, with one area fully pre-assembled. Main lifts are expected to begin in August or September. Components are scheduled to be delivered to the site by the end of February, with the turbines expected to be operational by early 2025.
The project has remained on track, despite previous delays faced by equipment supplier Siemens Gamesa due to technical challenges with the turbines. The site now has four substations, linking the produced electricity to the national grid at the Alajärvi substation.
Transportation of turbine parts from the port of Kokkola to Lestijärvi began in May and is set to continue into next year. Around 15% of the deliveries have already reached the site, with local cooperation reported to be positive. As of now, approximately 50 workers are on-site, with the number expected to rise to between 150 and 200 during peak installation phases.