The first power lines planned for the GigaVaasa industrial area are progressing well. EPV Alueverkko’s double circuits Laajametsä-Finne 1 and 2 (110 kV) are currently being constructed near the industrial area, southeast of Vaasa city, close to the airport. The construction of the power lines will be completed by the end of this April.
EPV Alueverkko’s maintenance manager and power line project manager Joni Salmenautio states that the construction of the power line is the first phase of a broader development of electricity transmission to the GigaVaasa area. The power lines, together with the substation, which will be completed in the spring, will enable high-voltage connections to the industrial area.
“The primary purpose of the power lines is to facilitate the construction work of the industrial area. In a later phase, they will be used to transmit and support the electricity supply to the area’s industrial facilities. One of the circuits is planned to transmit electricity with a load capacity of 230 megavolt-amperes (MVA), while the other circuit awaits further planning,” explains Salmenautio.
The power lines will be connected to EPV Alueverkko’s Laajametsä substation, which will be ready for commissioning in September 2025. The substation construction is managed by Nordic Electro Power Oy. The completion of the substation will enable the start of electricity transmission to the GigaVaasa area. Additionally, EPV Alueverkko plans to build the Tuovila-Laajametsä power line as an extension to Laajametsä-Finne, which will complete the emerging ring connection for the GigaVaasa area’s electricity network.
Construction progress according to plans
The new power lines are approximately two kilometers long and extend from the Laajametsä substation to the Finne disconnecting point in Höstved.
The Laajametsä-Finne project began in February 2022, when EPV Alueverkko submitted a project permit to the Energy Authority for the construction of the power lines. The actual construction work started in early 2024.
The main contractor for the power line project has been Caverion Suomi Oy, responsible for foundation work, assembly and erection of power line poles, and conductor work. Caverion’s site manager Jesse Ahopelto reports that the construction work has progressed according to plans despite the challenges brought by the mild winter.
“Foundation work is generally scheduled for winter when the ground is hard enough for pole foundations. The unusually warm winter months brought some challenges due to the softer ground. However, we managed to create the foundations as planned and on schedule,” says Ahopelto.
The proximity to the airport has been concretely considered in the structure of the power line poles. Salmenautio mentions that special aviation obstacle lights have been installed on the poles.
“With the lights, approaching aircraft can detect the location of the power line poles, especially during dark hours. We have also provided specific information about individual poles located closest to possible flight paths.”
The electricity transmission projects for the GigaVaasa area are one of EPV Alueverkko’s main projects this year. Responding to the planning of electricity transmission for an exceptionally large industrial area on a national scale further strengthens the company’s position as a developer of high-voltage networks in the Ostrobothnia region.
“Our selection for these projects is primarily a testament to our expertise and knowledge, which we can offer for the development of the GigaVaasa area, both in the construction of electricity transmission and its maintenance through regular refurbishment work,” states Salmenautio.
For more information: Joni Salmenautio, Maintenance Manager, EPV Alueverkko, 044 3993 007