The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) program for Ilmatar’s largest offshore wind project, Bothnia, has launched, with the project proceeding to consultation phase.
The EIA work is carried out in cooperation with Ramboll Finland for the project, located in the Finnish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and divided into two sub-areas, Bothnia and Bothnia West.
During development, the company says the areas were optimized and thus reduced, with Bothnia about half its original size, and Bothnia West reduced by approximately 40%. Together, the two areas cover nearly 1,200 square km and have a potential capacity of 4 GW.
”At this stage, we have chosen to proceed on areas with minimal overlap with other interests, such as shipping and fishing,” says Jori Sihvonen, Ilmatar’s offshore project manager for the EEZ. “We have also considered the depth conditions; the optimized project areas have a depth between 40 and 120 meters.”
The project’s consultation phase includes the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment in Southwest Finland accepting statements and views from stakeholders, other authorities and the public.
