Electricity production at Skarta Energy’s Utajärvi solar park started

In December 2023, Skarta Energy reported widely when the investment decision for the Utajärvi solar park project was announced. The construction of the power plant began in early 2024. The first 51.9 MWp of the park’s capacity has now been connected to Fingrid’s (Finland’s transmission system operator) main grid and electricity production has started.

When completed, the Isosuo solar park in Utajärvi will be one of the largest solar power plants in Finland. According to statistics maintained by the Renewables Finland (Suomen uusiutuvat ry), at the end of 2024, there were a total of 25 industrial-scale solar power plants in operation in Finland, with a total capacity of 123 MWp. The maximum capacity of the Isosuo power plant in Utajärvi, which is now connected to the grid, will be almost as much, approximately 103.2 MWp.

"The energy production of the first phase in Utajärvi corresponds to about a third of the total industrial solar power capacity currently in production in Finland. Two-thirds is produced in the other, just over 25 solar parks. This reflects the size and importance of the Isosuo solar park in the production of industrial solar power in Finland," says Santeri Ahokas, Director, Projects at Skarta Energy.

“The Utajärvi solar park project is very important to us not only because of its size, but also for many other reasons. Utajärvi was one of the first projects we launched. Every one of our staff has participated in its planning and implementation, in one way or another. The connection of the park to the network is therefore a very significant milestone for our own personnel alone,” Santeri Ahokas continues.

When completed, the Isosuo solar park in Utajärvi will produce approximately 97 GWh of solar power annually. The solar park will be built on an area of 150 hectares and a total of 170,000 solar panels will be installed in it. In addition to solar power, Skarta Energy has invested in a 20 MW / 40MWh battery storage facility in Isosuo, and the park will be a hybrid park when completed. NYAB Finland Oy is responsible for the construction of the park and battery storage.

"The Isosuo solar park will be built on a disused peat bog, which is challenging to build as a substrate. Despite the difficult circumstances, the project has progressed ahead of schedule. Thanks for this go to NYAB Finland Oy, which is responsible for the construction, and their supervisors, designers and partners. I would like to convey my thanks to the Building Control of the Municipality of Utajärvi and the ELY of North Ostrobothnia for their prompt decisions and statements, to Fingrid for their cooperation in the system technical coordination of the electricity network, and of course to all other partners for our cooperation so far," says Simo Rintakari, Project Manager, Skarta Energy.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has granted an investment aid of EUR 13.3 million for the Utajärvi solar park. The size of the project is more than EUR 80 million.