The resident survey related to the environmental impact assessment of the Korsnäs Offshore Wind Farm project was carried out in late 2025, and it received a large number of responses from both permanent residents and seasonal residents in the surrounding area. The purpose of the survey was to assess the current use of the area, as well as the residents’ views on the possible impacts of the project on living conditions, the environment and recreational use.
A press release on the survey was sent to 2,481 households and published in local newspapers, for example. A total of 630 people responded to the survey. Heini Passoja, Project Director at Metsähallitus, is pleased with the number of responses: “The resident survey is one way for the locals to influence and express their views on the project. The survey clearly attracted interest, and the number of responses provides a good basis for assessing residents’ views.”
Approximately 40% of the responses came from Korsnäs residents. According to Passoja, the responses will be carefully analysed and summarised in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, which will be published in 2027, at the earliest. The EIA work is currently progressing both in the sea area and on the mainland, and the timetable is affected by a possible need for further investigations.
Public events attracted large audiences
Alongside the survey, public events were organised in various municipalities. The events attracted a lot of people interested in the project, and the discussion was lively. In particular, questions were raised about electricity transmission and the visibility of the wind turbines.
Below are answers to the most common questions raised during the events.
Why can electricity transmission to Kristiinankaupunki not be implemented using subsea cabling?
The length of the subsea cables would be more than 80 kilometres from the marine power station to Kristiinankaupunki, which would make the solution economically unfeasible and technically challenging. Repairing faults on the seabed is considerably more difficult than on overhead lines. In addition, coastal Natura 2000 sites and other protected areas significantly restrict subsea cabling.
Is it possible to use shared pylons?
The current electricity system allows a maximum transfer of 1,300 megawatts on a single line. This limit cannot be exceeded without compromising the reliability of the electricity system, so a separate dedicated power line must be built for the project.
How wide will the power lines be?
The electricity produced in the project will be transferred to the main grid using a maximum of two 400 kV power lines. The treeless opening for a new 400 kV power line is approximately 42 metres. If two parallel lines are built, the width will increase to approximately 83 metres. In addition, there will be 10-metre clearance zones on both sides. If a new line is built alongside an existing one, a new opening of approximately 41 metres is needed.
Who makes the final decision on the electricity transmission route?
An essential factor in the selection of the electricity transmission route is the connection point to the main grid. Fingrid will determine the grid connection point after the project permit has been applied for. A precondition for applying for the project permit is the approval of the municipality of Korsnäs for the offshore wind farm plan. The project developer Vattenfall will select the route to be implemented, based on technical and economic feasibility, as well as the constraints set by the environmental, housing and land use plans.
How are wind turbines visible in the landscape?
Visibility is examined in the EIA procedure by means of zone of visual influence. The visibility of the wind turbines depends on seasons, weather conditions and lighting. The EIA report includes illustrations in which the wind turbines have been modelled into photographs from different viewing points, to enable a comprehensive assessment of the impacts on the landscape.