Finland’s wind power production dropped sharply in July, with only a quarter of the country’s installed wind energy capacity in use for most of the month, according to grid operator Fingrid.
Exceptionally calm conditions combined with sustained high temperatures led to a widespread standstill in turbine activity, particularly during daylight hours. Arto Pahkin, Fingrid’s control room manager, said the wind supply fluctuated significantly, with peak generation occurring mainly in the evenings.
Finland has installed wind capacity totalling 8,885 megawatts, which is equivalent to more than five Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactors. Despite this, generation in July was among the weakest recorded due to prevailing weather conditions.
To offset the shortfall, grid operators increased hydroelectric output and ramped up electricity imports from Sweden. Hydropower alone has not been sufficient to cover the production gap. Fingrid confirmed that while hydro remains a key flexible source, it cannot match the volume lost when wind production drops by thousands of megawatts in a matter of hours.
Solar energy helped narrow the gap during the day. High solar radiation allowed solar power output to approach 1,000 megawatts on some days, nearing the level of a nuclear unit. Finland's solar capacity now stands at nearly 1,500 megawatts, according to Fingrid.
Pahkin noted that solar production has become a substantial contributor to the grid. “During sunny days in the heatwave, solar electricity’s peak output has risen close to 1,000 megawatts, which is very significant,” he said.
Finland’s solar development has accelerated in recent years. According to the Finnish Renewable Energy Association, there are now around 30 industrial-scale solar power plants operating in the country, with dozens more smaller installations completed this year.
Price fluctuations in the electricity market reflected the changing production mix. Daytime electricity prices have remained relatively low, supported by solar output, while prices surged in the evenings when demand stayed high and wind generation remained weak.
Maintaining grid balance has become increasingly difficult. The Finnish electricity system requires real-time equilibrium between production and consumption. Rapid drops in wind power force operators to rely on reserve generation capacity.
In addition to hydropower, fossil-fuel-based thermal plants have remained in operation during summer to stabilise supply. Large electric boilers, typically used for district heating, are also part of the balancing mechanism. Power companies receive compensation when these units are disconnected to reduce demand during generation shortfalls.
The Utajärvi solar park, located on a former peatland, has been highlighted as a major contributor to Finnish solar production. Solar arrays like this are part of a broader trend towards diversifying renewable sources amid volatile output from wind power.
Energy experts warn that such imbalances are likely to become more frequent as renewables dominate the energy mix. Weather-dependent sources, while crucial to decarbonisation efforts, require complementary systems to ensure supply continuity.
HT
