Consultation launched on offshore wind power areas in the EEZ and their strategic environmental assessment report
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment requests comments on the draft Government decision concerning offshore wind power areas in the exclusive economic zone and on the related environmental report in accordance with the Act on the Assessment of the Effects of Certain Plans and Programmes on the Environment (the SOVA Act).
Everyone has the opportunity to express their views on the draft decision and its environmental report. The consultation is open on the Lausuntopalvelu.fi website from 24 October to 2 December 2025. A webinar introducing the consultation will be held on 7 November (in Finnish). The registration link can be found at the end of this release.
Draft decision proposes two offshore wind power areas in the Bothnian Sea and two in the Bothnian Bay
According to the draft decision, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment proposes that the Government makes a decision on designating four areas located in Finland’s exclusive economic zone for the exploitation of wind power.
Of these areas, Bothnian Bay South and Bothnian Bay North, as well as Bothnian Sea East, border Finland’s territorial waters, while Bothnian Sea West is located close to the border between the exclusive economic zones of Sweden and Finland. The total surface area of the proposed sites is approximately 900 square kilometres.
SEA report also available for comments
The environmental report required under the SEA Act was prepared by Sweco Finland Oy on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
The report assesses the probable significant environmental impacts of the draft decision on the environment, people, the natural environment, community structure and the use of natural resources, as well as interactions between these factors for each area. It identifies major environmental impacts, presents the combined effects of the implementation options, evaluates key risks and provides recommendations for impact management.
The first phase of the SEA process took place in the spring of 2025, when stakeholders were consulted on the planning of the environmental assessment and the preparation of the environmental report. This current consultation concerns the draft government decision and the completed environmental report. Comments and opinions on the assessment plan and the description of the current state of the environment submitted during the first phase were reviewed and have been considered in the final report.
Comments on the draft decision and the SEA assessment can be submitted via the Lausuntopalvelu.fi website until 2 December 2025. Those submitting comments must register and log in to the service. All comments issued are public. If you cannot submit comments via the online service, you may send them by email to registry.tem(at)gov.fi, including the reference number VN/15881/2025 in your comment.
At the same time as the national consultation, an international consultation will also be organised in accordance with the Espoo Convention.
Webinar on the draft decision and SEA assessment
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will organise a webinar on 7 November 2025 to introduce the draft decision and its environmental assessment. The webinar will be organised in Finnish. The webinar will present the selection of areas and the related SEA assessment, which supports the preparation of the government decision and the sustainable development of offshore wind power. The event is open to all interested participants. Register for the webinar here: https://link.webropolsurveys.com/EP/12CEBECA3CFC7731
Enquiries:
Outi Vilén, Chief Specialist, tel. +358 295 047 016 (draft decision on offshore wind power areas)
Tuuli Oikarinen, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 047 292) (draft decision on offshore wind power areas)
Mari Saario, Director, Sweco Finland Oy, mari.saario(at)sweco.fi (strategic environmental assessment report)
Ulla Värre, Senior Consultant, Sweco Finland Oy, ulla.varre(at)sweco.fi (strategic environmental assessment report)