Provisions on offshore wind power construction and decommissioning circulated for comments
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is requesting views on the proposal for a new chapter concerning offshore wind power construction and decommissioning to be added to the Water Act. Further provisions supplementing it would be included in the Government Decree on Water Resources Management.
The chapter concerning offshore wind power would apply to the construction and decommissioning of offshore wind power in Finland’s exclusive economic zone and the securities to be lodged to ensure the decommissioning of wind turbines. Since the Construction Act does not apply in the exclusive economic zone, the provisions are proposed to be included in the Water Act.
Offshore wind power projects would mean offshore wind turbines intended for the utilisation of wind energy and the structures and equipment and pipes and cables of the project that are located in marine areas. Some of the provisions, including the longer time period for implementing the projects, necessary permit conditions, decommissioning obligation and decommissioning plan, would also apply to offshore wind power projects in Finland’s territorial waters.
The proposal is based on the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government, according to which the rules for offshore wind power are currently inadequate and the legislative framework concerning the exclusive economic zone needs to be supplemented and clarified.
The relevant provisions concerning construction would be incorporated into offshore wind power projects in the exclusive economic zone, as appropriate. The provisions concerning decommissioning would ensure that the structures that are no longer in use will be dismantled in a controlled manner to ensure maritime transport safety and take the marine environment into account. A mechanism will also be needed by which the dismantling can be carried out in the exclusive economic zone in such a way that, in the event of neglect of the obligation, the costs will not fall on the state.
The proposed amendments to the Government Decree on Water Resources Management would further specify the information provided in permit applications and decommissioning plans concerning offshore wind power and the accumulation of the security concerning decommissioning. According to the proposal, the security would be accumulated in four equal instalments so that after 20 years from the notification of the completion of the project it would fully cover the decommissioning costs.
The proposal is part of the implementation of the action plan to promote offshore wind power. The objective is to improve the predictability and legal certainty of the projects, strengthen the realisation of the polluter pays principle, and streamline the new provisions as well as possible with the current permit procedure under the Water Act.
The provisions are scheduled to enter into force in spring 2027.
Views can be submitted until 29 July 2026
Please submit your views by responding to the request at Lausuntopalvelu.fi. Instructions for registration and using the service are available at Lausuntopalvelu.fi.
If you cannot submit views at Lausuntopalvelu.fi, you may send them by email to the registry of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment at kirjaamo.tem(at)gov.fi, or by post to: Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, PO Box 32, FI-00023 GOVERNMENT. If sent to the registry, please include the reference number VN/25324/2025 in your response. This will ensure that your views can be attached to an email in Word or PDF format as a document that does not contain any unnecessary personal data, such as email addresses of private persons.
Inquiries:
Hanna-Erika Savolainen, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 047 166 (absent 18–30 June)
Outi Vilén, Chief Specialist, tel. +358 295 047 016 (absent 1–28 June)
Pekka Grönlund, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 064 815 (absent 29 June–26 July)