Kokkola Industrial Park is the largest chemical and metal processing ecosystem in Northern Europe, home to a number of top international companies. Photo by KIP
In 2040, the Finnish Energy Industry estimates that Finland's economy will be driven by industry and services based on clean electricity, hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide, with the share of electricity as an energy source almost tripling by 2023.
Hydrogen will play a major role in the future energy system, and this is what makes the area between Kokkola and Äänekoski particularly interesting and topical. After all, the region largely fulfils the conditions for an already functioning hydrogen ecosystem.
Production potential of up to 33 terawatt hours
The hydrogen ecosystem, located mainly in Central Ostrobothnia and Finland, has enormous potential for renewable energy production. The region is rich in disused peat production areas, which has made it possible to locate solar energy projects in the region, almost like a gold rush. Energy operators have initiated nearly 3 000 hectares of solar projects in the last year or so. The same is true for the large fur farms operating in the region, many of which are planning renewable energy production.
Ecologically sustainable means, above all, that energy production in this case does not pose a threat of loss of nature. This is due to the fact that there is no need to deforest decommissioned peat production areas, which reinforces the social acceptance of the activity and is in line with the forthcoming Forest Restoration Regulation.
As regards renewable energy production, wind power has been a long-standing and vibrant activity in and around the coastal zone. The largest onshore wind farm in Finland is currently under construction in Lestijärvi, and new wind power is also being built elsewhere in the region. Onshore wind has the advantage of geostrategic security, i.e. the infrastructure is safe on the mainland and cannot be subject to potentially hostile hybrid interference from the sea. In addition, site maintainability and ecosystem scaling is much more efficient in our region, where there is a wealth of disused, ready-made infrastructure suitable for renewable industries.
It has been estimated that the maximum electricity generation capacity of the 18-municipality hydrogen ecosystem would be up to 33.1 terawatt-hours. Indeed, some historians see hydrogen as a source of wealth for the European Union's climate goals in the same way that tar has been for Kokkola and its surrounding counties since the 17th century. The synergy between the city of Kokkola and the province is obvious. The question is, will this usher in a new golden age and renaissance for the west coast, as in the days when tar was widely imported from inland and shipped from Kokkola all the way to England?
Smooth zoning promotes investment
In a sparsely populated region, zoning has generally been smooth, which helps renewable energy projects to be implemented on the ground and on schedule. One example is the dense Liedes and Pajuoja area of about 25 square kilometres on the border between Halsua, Kaustinen and Veteli, which offers excellent conditions for electricity processing. The capacity left over from peat and peat production is currently available for renewable energy, which is a considerable advantage, as the completed infrastructure does not create any habitat loss from the point of view of the Forest Restoration Regulation.
A separate chapter in the hydrogen ecosystem is electricity transmission. There is plenty of interconnection capacity available and more will be available in the future when the new Lakeus line between Jylkkä and Lake Alajärvi, owned by the grid operator Fingrid, is completed in 2027. The problem elsewhere in Finland is that there is no interconnection capacity available to the electricity grid, and the design and construction of a potential 400kv transmission line would create significant nature cover. As a result, the available infrastructure in our region is unique on a European scale.
For companies located in the area affected by the hydrogen ecosystem, the hydrogen economy offers an excellent opportunity to modernise their activities. For example, companies operating along Highway 13 between Kokkola and Äänekoski have been very interested in the possibility of joining the hydrogen network planned by Gasgrid. Jukka Hillukkala, Mayor of Toholamm, who chairs the Kaustinen sub-regional council, also emphasises the large number of hydrogen consumers.
Metsä Fibre's bioproduct mill in Äänekoski produces softwood and birch pulp as a main product for cardboard, tissue and printing paper and special products. Photo.
Renewable energy investments are also being boosted by a turnaround in interest rates, and the government led by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (Coalition Party) wants to attract large sustainable investments to Finland. The government is currently preparing tax subsidies for large-scale energy projects of €50-150 million and direct support for strategically important investment projects.
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This article is part of a series of articles published by the Semukas project on the renewable energy production potential in Central Ostrobothnia and Sydänsuomi. The Semukas project aims to develop transnational cooperation, promote growth-oriented and new employment-generating business and strengthen business and market know-how related to the carbon-neutral economy. The project is funded by the member municipalities of Kaustinen and Sydänsuomessa regions, Witas, Kokkola University Centre Chydenius and the Federation of Central Ostrobothnia.
