Kotaselkä

Up to nine wind turbines are planned for the Kotaselkä area, with a maximum total height of 350 metres. The final design of the project will be influenced by, among other things, zoning and the studies, statements, opinions and stakeholder dialogue carried out as part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process.

The Kotaselkä project has strong support from landowners – the landowners’ negotiating committee has selected Ilmatar to develop the Kotaselkä wind power project.

An existing 2 × 110 kV power line runs through the project area, and the Kotaselkä project will be connected to it via a direct line-side connection. No new overhead power lines will be required.

In accordance with the national land use objectives, the Kotaselkä project will utilise the same infrastructure as the neighbouring Pahkakoski wind farm.

The project has received a favourable statement from the Finnish Defence Forces.

Current status

The land use plan draft for the Kotaselkä project is planned to be made available for public review in summer 2026. A public meeting will be organised during the public review period,预计预计 approximately in June 2026.

The environmental impact assessment procedure in accordance with the EIA Act was completed when the Licensing and Supervisory Authority issued its reasoned conclusion on the project on 9 April 2026.

EIA procedure

The environmental impact assessment programme (EIA programme) for the Kotaselkä wind power project was available for public review in autumn 2023, and the EIA report at the turn of the year 2026. The environmental impact assessment procedure pursuant to the EIA Act has been completed. The Licensing and Supervisory Authority issued its reasoned conclusion on the project on 9 April 2026.

More information on the project’s EIA procedure is available on the website of the Finnish environmental administration: www.ymparisto.fi/kotaselantuulivoimaYVA (in FInnish).

Zoning

Partial master plan zoning was initiated when the Urban Environment Committee of the City of Oulu approved Ilmatar’s zoning initiative in January 2022.

The Urban Environment Committee of the City of Oulu approved the participation and assessment scheme (PAS) for the partial master plan and announced the initiation of the planning process in September 2023. The participation and assessment scheme for the Kotaselkä wind power project was available for public review in autumn 2023.

The draft partial master plan for the Kotaselkä project will be made available for public review in summer 2026. A public meeting will be held during the public review period.