Ground-mounted solar power plant in Vihreäsaari, Oulu

The Vihreäsaari solar farm is a power plant of significant size by Finnish standards. The five-megawatt (MW) solar power plant is built on an artificial island on land that is unsuitable for other construction. There is no permanent settlement on Vihreäsaari; instead, it has served as Oulu’s oil and chemical port. 

The first phase of the solar power plant built by Oomi Solar was commissioned in 2022. The second phase was completed in summer 2023. The solar farm has a total capacity of nearly 10 MW and generates approximately 10,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean energy. In total, there are approximately 18,000 bifacial solar panels in the area. In winter, the power plant’s bifacial panels can also generate energy from sunlight reflected off the snow on the rear side of the panels.  

Oomi Solar is the owner and operator 

The City of Oulu has committed to purchasing all solar power produced at an agreed upon fixed price. Oomi Solar owns the solar farm and has been responsible for its design and construction. Oomi Solar is also responsible for its maintenance. 

“According to the service agreement concluded with the City of Oulu, the entire production of the Vihreäsaari solar farm will be used by the City of Oulu. Now that the expansion is complete, the solar farm produces nearly 10,000 megawatt-hours, which is about 11% of the electricity consumption of the City of Oulu,” says Business Manager Antti Korkala. 

Oomi Solar’s PPA model is an effortless and secure procurement model that does not tie up the customer’s capital. The customer gains access to a solar power plant without the burden of ownership. At the same time, the customer reduces their carbon footprint and saves on energy costs. 

“An Oomi Solar power plant is a cost-effective and responsible choice for businesses and the public sector,” says Korkala. 

Green values first 

The Vihreäsaari solar farm will significantly reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of the City of Oulu – by approximately 700 tonnes per year. The solar farm will provide the City of Oulu with a long-term and profitable supply of electricity from a renewable energy source. 

The construction practices of the solar farm were designed with the requirements of the surrounding nature and green values in mind. 

“The willows and bushes that had grown wild on the island were cleared away before the second phase of construction began. A total of around 19 truckloads of wood chips were transported from the area to Oulun Energia for recovery. In addition to the flora, the design of the site takes into account the fauna of the area and minimises the impact on it. The birds and other animals living on Vihreäsaari can still live and nest between the solar panels,” Korkala explains. 

There is a considerable number of solar panels in the area. Placed end to end, the panel row would be approximately 22 kilometres long, and stacked, they would rise to a height of around 350 metres.  

“We have already had excellent experiences with the solar power plant,” Korkala says happily. 

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