“We are building a responsible and cost-effective energy system of the future. This means that over the next few years, we will have to significantly increase the production of renewable electricity, such as solar and wind power. This latest investment decision is an important step toward achieving this goal,” celebrates Tommi Kantola, business director of energy services at Oulun Energia.

EPV Energia will build the solar power field on the former peat production area in Heinineva in Lapua. The project will be implemented in two phases. In the first phase, the solar power field will produce approximately 70 gigawatt hours of electricity per year. Oulun Energia’s share of this is about 30%. After the implementation of the potential second phase, the electricity production capacity will increase to approximately 90 gigawatt hours per year.

“Oulun Energia’s goal is to increase the total capacity of solar energy to 100 megawatts by 2026. This corresponds to the annual consumption of approximately 5,000 electrically heated detached houses. The Heinineva project alone will bring us 20 megawatts of power,” states Kimmo Nieminen, director of solar and wind energy at Oulun Energia. “It is also great that the solar power field is built on a decommissioned peat production area with a minimal environmental impact,” Nieminen continues.

Preliminary design work for the new solar power field began in 2022. The trial run and launch of the field will take place at the end of 2025.