Joroinen completes Finland’s largest tracking-panel solar farm

Finland’s largest solar farm with tracking panels has been completed on a drained peatland in Joroinen, Yle reports. The Hallanvahti solar park is about six kilometres from the centre of the municipality in North Savo.

Construction took several years and brought activity beyond the edge of the peatland. Large rental apartments in Joroinen gained tenants, while workers in yellow overalls filled the local service station and village street.

Joroinen’s technical director, Petri Miettinen, said the municipality was very pleased the project had been completed. It plans to remain active in promoting energy projects, particularly solar power, mainly through land-use planning. With just over 4,000 residents, Joroinen already has the second-largest solar power capacity of any municipality in Finland.

Large energy projects have also raised concerns about environmental effects. The municipality and developer Taaleri Energy said they had held open discussions with local residents. “When investments of this size are made, it is important that local people feel they benefit the area,” said Petri Isotalus, Taaleri Energy’s investment director.

The Hallanvahti park has 206,000 solar panels. It was built on the drained Tervajoensuo peatland, where drainage had dried out the ground and affected construction. The company says the panels’ foundations were installed on piles, avoiding soil replacement or further drying, while roads were built to float on the peat.