We operate in public water areas
Areas within Finland’s territorial waters are called public water areas. Outside the territorial waters is the exclusive economic zone of Finland, which is regulated on different principles. In addition to the sea areas, public water areas include the open stretches of some of the larger inland lakes.
The public water areas, including the lake and sea bottoms, are the property of the Finnish state, except for the water areas owned by the Åland region. The state-owned sea areas within Finnish territorial waters are managed by Metsähallitus. Metsähallitus also carries out the duties of the property owner. Legislation governing the development of offshore wind power in public water areas is already in place, providing a clear framework for our activities.
Offshore wind power has been identified in Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government Programme as one of the key areas for the development of Finland’s energy and investment policy. The programme includes an objective to define a national offshore wind power capacity target for 2035.
Legislative Framework for the Exclusive Economic Zone Completed
In October 2024, the Finnish Government submitted a proposal to Parliament for an Act on Offshore Wind Power in Finland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Government’s starting point in preparing the legislation was that offshore wind power projects should be developed on market terms. The Act entered into force at the beginning of 2025.
The legislation establishes procedures for allocating areas within the Exclusive Economic Zone for offshore wind power development. It also defines the permits required for offshore wind projects in the EEZ and aligns the taxation and fee framework of the EEZ with that applied in public water areas.
Read more: Act on Offshore Wind Power in the Exclusive Economic Zone enters into force
Metsähallitus’ mandate covers offshore wind power development within Finland’s territorial waters. Offshore wind projects located in the Exclusive Economic Zone are tendered by the Energy Authority. The Finnish Government determines the areas to be tendered and grants exclusive rights to apply for exploitation permits in the selected areas.
Recommendations for developing the operating environment
At the same time as the Government launched the legislative process for the Exclusive Economic Zone, a working group was appointed to identify measures that could support the development of offshore wind power in Finland. In its report, published in August 2024, the group presented recommendations for public authorities and other stakeholders aimed at improving the operating environment for offshore wind power.
The working group recommended that Finland should establish a clear long-term vision for offshore wind power development, strengthen national coordination and improve the compatibility of different maritime activities.
In October 2024, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment established an Offshore Wind Power Coordination Group to develop and maintain a shared understanding of developments in the offshore wind sector. The group is also responsible for monitoring the implementation of the measures proposed by the earlier working group.
When establishing the coordination group, the Finnish Government reiterated its intention to set an ambitious target for offshore wind power development for the coming decade. The objective is to strengthen Finland’s competitive position in offshore wind power among the countries of the Baltic Sea region.
Members of the coordination group include representatives of ministries, while permanent expert members represent energy and transport authorities, state-owned enterprises, industry organisations and other stakeholders. Metsähallitus is one of the permanent expert members.
The coordination group’s mandate runs for three years, until the end of October 2027.
Other states also enjoy rights over the exclusive economic zone
The exclusive economic zone of Finland is an international sea area whose borders are determined by agreements between Finland and other countries (Sweden, Estonia, and Russia). In addition to the territorial waters, Finland has jurisdiction over the exclusive economic zone as well as exclusive rights to its natural resources. Finnish law is applied to the protection of the marine environment in the exclusive economic zone.
Other states have the right to navigate and fly over Finland’s exclusive economic zone. They also have the right to lay offshore cables and pipelines. They can also use the zone’s sea areas in ways authorised under international law and compatible with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.