Sun 2 solar power plant project in Huittinen faces challenges from Southwest Finland council

The planned solar power plant by Sun 2 in Huittinen faces significant challenges as the Regional Council of Southwest Finland has deemed that none of the proposed options can be implemented as they are. This ruling has been welcomed by the Satakunta district branch of the Finnish Nature Conservation Association, with its chairman, Ilpo Koppinen, praising the thorough guidance provided by the council on required further investigations.

Among the proposed alternatives, the smallest option—covering 353 hectares with a power line length of less than 1.9 kilometers to the Fingrid electrical station—has been deemed suitable for further planning. However, additional studies are necessary for two other options.

Karri Jutila, secretary of the Satakunta branch, emphasized that the Sun 2 project contradicts the goals set by the Ministry of Environment, which aims to steer solar power construction towards areas freed from peat production and vacant lands. The proposed solar power plant is primarily located in an area focused on agriculture and forestry, and Jutila criticized the project, stating that cutting down hundreds of hectares of forest does not align with maintaining environmental values.

According to the environmental impact assessment, the most significant environmental effects of the project concern the surrounding natural environment, the living conditions and comfort of nearby residents, the landscape, and interactions with other projects. The site is within the habitat of both wolves and flying squirrels and may also contain potential breeding and resting places for bats.

The assessment included feedback from 11 stakeholders and seven opinions from private individuals, with notable concern from the South Satakunta Environmental Board regarding the project’s scale. The study found that 13 residential buildings are located within a 100-meter radius of the largest proposed solar panel area, with a total of 89 within 500 meters, indicating significant potential impacts on the living conditions of nearby residents.