Åland: municipalities around the 0.7–1.5 GW Sunnanvind offshore wind farm demand their share of revenues

The municipalities in northern Åland in whose waters the archipelago's first offshore wind farm would be built want to know how much of the revenue they will receive before taking a position, public broadcaster Ålands Radio reported on 5 November. Kumlinge is "cautiously positive", while Brändö and Saltvik are waiting for the distribution model.

What the municipalities want. Gun-Mari Lindholm, chair of the Kumlinge municipal board, told Ålands Radio she does not agree that revenues, apart from property tax, should go to the regional government to be redistributed: "We believe the lease payments and taxes should go to the municipality where the turbines stand." Kumlinge wants to consult residents of Kumlinge and Enklinge, who might see the turbines, before deciding. Mathias Johansson, chair of the Saltvik municipal board, is waiting for the financial distribution, and Tommy Öström, his counterpart in Brändö, has put the issue "on ice".

What the budget says. In the 2027 draft budget, presented on 30 October, the regional government asks parliament (the Lagting) for consent to lease, within five years, a sea area in the waters of Brändö, Kumlinge and Saltvik, on condition that at least 700 MW is built there. The lease can run for up to 50 years, with an option to extend by another 25. The first farm could be between 0.7 and 1.5 GW, and the chosen area is just under two-thirds of the planned area. The document states that part of the revenue will go to the municipalities and that a distribution model is being discussed with them.

The figures. For 2027, 806,000 euros are proposed to prepare the tender, plus commitments of 1,245,000 euros for 2028–2029; the first revenues could enter the 2028 budget. At full build-out, the northern areas would total 4 GW and about 20 TWh a year, roughly 60 times Åland's current consumption, according to the regional government.

Context. The daily Nya Åland wrote on 29 October that there is market interest, but that conditions are not the best. Planning of the waters remains a municipal decision, through partial master plans.

Data for the island are on the Åland page.