Wind power growing most in North Finland
Northern Finland moves with the winds, outpaces neighboring Nordic regions in wind power generation.
Figures assembled by Patchwork Barents show that the northern parts of Finland have the quickest growing wind power industry in the whole northern Scandinavia and Barents Region.
The regions of Lapland and Northern Ostrobotinia in 2014 produced respectively 368 GWh and 340 GWh, a year-on-year growth of 22 percent and 47 percent respectively.
Biggest production in Barents Region
The two regions now together account for the by far biggest production in the Barents Region. Only neighboring Västerbotten, the Swedish region, has higher production. In 2014, Västerbotten produced 443 GWh, a decline of almost 20 percent from the previous year.
The other north Swedish region, Norrbotten, in 2014 had a production of 100 GWh. Norrbotten is the site for the major projected Markbygden wind power project.
Wind power in Norway
In northern Norway, the regions of Nordland, Troms and Finnmark in 2014 had no major change in wind power generation. Finnmark remains the biggest north Norwegian wind power generator with a production of 200 GWh.
The Russian part of the Barents Region has so far not developed any significant wind power industry, although Murmansk Oblast is introducing small-scale power stations on its southern White Sea coast.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Canada’s remote communities work to reduce diesel use, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: Solar power prospects good in Finland despite rainy summer, Yle News
Norway: Japan wants wind power from Arctic Norway, Barents Observer
Russia: No alternative to Arctic oil says Russia environment minister, Barents Observer
Sweden: Wind power investments down in Sweden, Radio Sweden
United States: Alternative heating system shows promise for reducing fuel costs in Interior Alaska, Alaska Public Radio Network
