Harjulinja power line proposed to meet data centre and industrial demand

Fingrid, Finland’s national grid operator, plans a 400-kilovolt overhead line named Harjulinja to run from Pyhäjärvi in North Ostrobothnia to Kouvola in Kymenlaakso, supplying growing electricity demand from data centres and industry.

The 96-metre-wide corridor would require extensive forest clearance along much of its route because existing transmission corridors cannot accommodate the new line. Harjulinja’s southern end would terminate at Koriala, where TikTok’s Finnish data centre is under construction and due to open before the end of 2026.

Opposition has coalesced in the northern sections of the proposed route, across North Ostrobothnia, Central Finland, North Savo and South Savo, where preliminary alignments have been drawn on planning maps. The Järvi-Suomen puolesta association argues the line would irrevocably alter rural landscapes and is calling for municipal referendums before any construction begins. The group plans banner drops this weekend in Central Finland and North Savo, unfurling 96-metre-long fabric strips to illustrate the corridor’s width.

Kouvola’s municipal development company, Kouvola Innovation, supports the project. “Regions that want to remain viable need functioning infrastructure, and the electricity grid is central to that,” said CEO Pasi Miettinen. Fingrid reiterated its statutory obligation to reinforce the national grid, stating that a “do-nothing” option is not realistic.

Environmental impact assessment programmes for both northern and southern sections are scheduled for publication between October and November. Fingrid’s senior specialist Marja Nuottajärvi expects extensive public feedback once route options are released. Construction of the Kouvola section is currently slated for 2032.