At a public information event held in Närpes on 10 September 2026, the project team presented the planned Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the marine components of the Edith Offshore Wind Project. Discussions focused on marine ecosystems, fisheries, landscape effects, offshore cable landfall locations and the next stages of project development.
Approximately twenty local residents attended the event at Närpes Secondary School to learn more about the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Programme for the Edith Offshore Wind Project. Prior to the presentations, participants had the opportunity to engage with project experts and review maps and other project materials.
The event was opened by Närpes City Manager Mikaela Björklund, Niklas Virkkala from the Finnish Permitting and Supervisory Agency, acting as the contact authority for the project, and Axel Andersson, Project Manager at Ramboll Finland Oy and the EIA consultant for the project. Björklund thanked Metsähallitus for the collaboration during the early stages of the project and for actively engaging both residents and the City of Närpes. She described Edith as a large-scale and unique project that offers significant opportunities but also involves impacts that must be carefully assessed.
Niklas Virkkala presented the role of the contact authority in the EIA procedure. The EIA Program describes which environmental impacts will be assessed and how the assessment will be carried out. At this stage, no decisions are made regarding the implementation of the project. Written opinions on the EIA Program may be submitted to the contact authority by 12 October 2026. The information gathered during the consultation period will be used in the project’s further planning and in the preparation of the actual environmental impact assessment.
Annina Hästö, Offshore Wind Manager at Metsähallitus, explained Metsähallitus’ role as the administrator of state-owned land and water areas and as the developer of the Edith project during its initial phase. A commercial partner selected through a competitive process will later continue the project’s development.
The Edith Offshore Wind Farm Project is planned in Finland’s territorial waters off the coast of Närpes. The project alternative currently under assessment includes up to 100 wind turbines. According to the EIA Program, the maximum generating capacity of an individual turbine is 30 megawatts, with a maximum total height of 390 meters. The final number, capacity and locations of the turbines will be refined as planning progresses. The project design has been developed to maintain technical flexibility as technology continues to evolve. If realised, the project could deliver significant economic benefits to the municipality of Närpes. Hästö highlighted the substantial property tax revenues that offshore wind generation could bring to the municipality. She also noted that electricity demand is expected to continue growing as industry and society advance towards electrification.
Comprehensive Studies of the Marine Environment and Potential Effects Are Underway
Axel Andersson presented the project alternative under review in the EIA Program, possible foundation solutions and alternative offshore cable routes. The event focused on the marine elements of the project. A separate environmental impact assessment will be carried out for the onshore electricity transmission infrastructure.
Key themes of the marine assessment include:
- water depth, seabed structures and sediment types
- fish stocks, commercial and recreational fishing, and migratory fish species
- water currents and water quality
- underwater and airborne noise
- bird populations and migration routes
- Natura 2000 sites and other protected areas
- landscape impacts, living conditions and quality of life
- land and sea use, as well as cumulative impacts from other projects.
The planned offshore cable corridors have been designed to minimize interactions with coastal Natura 2000 areas wherever possible. Potential landfall locations are being evaluated with consideration given to permanent and recreational housing, as well as the space requirements of the substation.
Field surveys are currently ongoing. Studies within the project area include bird migration monitoring, surveys of resting birds, seabed investigations, and modelling of water currents and water quality. Additional studies, such as noise modelling, are also being undertaken. The cumulative impacts of the Edith project are being assessed together with those of the Korsnäs Offshore Wind Farm Project.
Marine Environment and Fisheries Among Key Discussion Topics
Following the presentations, participants actively contributed to the discussion. The atmosphere remained constructive and respectful, with questions covering topics such as marine nature, ongoing field studies, cable landfall locations, landscape impacts, noise impacts and spatial planning.
Several participants emphasized the importance of conducting thorough assessments of the project’s impact on the marine environment. Hästö and Andersson underlined that the purpose of the EIA procedure is to identify the project’s significant impacts as comprehensively as possible and to assess how adverse effects can be avoided, reduced or mitigated. Questions related to fisheries focused particularly on the potential effects of offshore cable corridors on water currents, fish spawning grounds and commercial fishing activities. Landscape changes and the visibility of wind turbines from the coast also generated discussion.
Participants also asked when the final cable landfall location would be selected. It was noted that the alternatives will be refined during the next stages of project planning. The selection of the commercial partner will also influence future technical solutions. Several landfall alternatives are assessed in the EIA Program, but ultimately only one will be implemented. The final solution will also depend on the transmission grid connection point designated for the project by Fingrid.
Stakeholder Engagement Will Continue Throughout the EIA Process
Residents and other stakeholders will have opportunities to participate in the assessment process throughout the EIA procedure. After the consultation period, dialogue will continue through, among other channels, the project’s monitoring group. In addition, a map-based public survey is being planned to collect local knowledge on topics such as land and sea use and locations of local importance.
In accordance with the established practice of the City of Närpes, decisions on any planning proposal will only be made after the contact authority has issued its reasoned conclusion on the EIA report. The questions, observations and viewpoints raised during the event will be considered as part of the project’s ongoing planning and assessment work. The discussion highlighted the importance of local knowledge and experience in supporting a robust environmental impact assessment process.
Written opinions on the EIA Program must be submitted to the contact authority by 12 October 2026.
Upcoming Events for the Edith Offshore Wind Farm Project
- At the end of October, a monitoring group meeting concerning the EIA Program for the onshore part of the project will be organized for local associations.
- At the end of November, an open public event concerning the EIA Program for the onshore part of the project will be held. The exact date and time will be announced through notices in local newspapers and on the project website.
Text: Kukka-Maaria Kallio. Metsähallitus.
Photos: Kukka-Maaria Kallio, Ville Suorsa. Metsähallitus.