- Better Energy has found Forus as a local partner to develop solar power projects in Finland
- Together the duo plan to install more than 1 GW grid connected solar power capacity
- While Forus will help with its local knowledge, Better Energy will fund, construct, operate and own solar power plants under the partnership
Danish renewable energy company Better Energy and Finland based solar power developer Forus have joined hands to co-develop more than 1 GW grid connected solar power capacity in Finland, the former has announced.
Under the partnership, Better Energy said it will fund, construct, operate and own solar power plants in the European country. The Finnish pipeline, it added, will add to the growing activities in Denmark, Poland and Sweden for the company with an accumulated pipeline of 7 GW.
Forus counts its development and construction portfolio of solar parks in the country as adding up to 50 and brings to the partnership its extensive local knowledge and being the point of contact for landowners.
Currently Finland is experiencing high electricity prices like the rest of Europe and after especially Russia cut off electricity exports to the country since May 14, 2022, explains the Danish developer who bats for solar as providing ‘locally produced, clean, and sustainable’ energy.
“Finland could produce over 5 times its need of power with wind and solar. Nordics should take bigger responsibility for the energy production of Europe, or EU is risking either its green targets or its autonomy,” added CEO of Forus, Eero Oksanen.
According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, the country aims to increase the use of renewable energy in its end consumption to over 50% by 2030. Currently bioenergy is the leading renewable energy source but interest in other sources including solar is increasing.
In April 2022, Octopus Renewables backed Nordic Renewables Limited of Nordic Generation Limited to develop around 400 MW onshore wind farms and PV assets in Finland, a news that came soon after Skarta, Solarigo and Lummer Energia announced a partnerhip to develop 1 GW solar in Finland and Sweden (see Octopus Commits €3.5 Million For Finnish RE).
