Q&A

Øyfjellet Wind AS and our business partners will bring around 15 full-time posts to the local area during the operational phase, and we will be long-term members of the local business community. The power purchase agreement with the cornerstone industry, Alcoa, will additionally secure hundreds of Norwegian jobs.

Every year, we expect to contribute over NOK 80 million in total to the local community, in the form of property tax, income tax, production fee, land rental payments, local contracts, sponsorship funds and more.

Hydroelectric power has been a mainstay of the Norwegian power system for generations, and will continue to be so. But now we need all the renewable energy we can get – wind, water and solar. NVE estimates the potential for upgrading and expanding hydroelectric power at 5.1 TWh, one of several important contributions. Non-regulable wind power is, moreover, a good complement to regulable hydroelectric power.

Our vision is to be a value creator working hand-in-hand with the local community. As a forward-looking business focused on the environment, it is important for us to use local services and business partners from Mosjøen and the surrounding region, and to make the mountain area accessible to many more people.

We support reindeer herding as an important cultural heritage and industry. Unfortunately, we have not yet managed to reach an agreement with the Jillen-Njaarke reindeer district, but we are willing to do our best to find viable solutions. We have entered into over 100 voluntary agreements with landowners, businesses and organisations affected by the project.

Norway currently produces about 130 TWh of renewable energy. To electrify construction, business, industry and transport, Statnett estimates we will need 20–40% more energy. If shipping, aviation and the petroleum sector are to move to renewables, the energy requirement increases by up to 70%. Norway is committed to a 45% cut in emissions from transport, construction, agriculture and waste by 2030 – this requires more renewable energy.

Renewable energy is crucial for halting the climate crisis. The IPCC has concluded that the world must change course significantly to avoid serious consequences for nature, the environment and society. 70% of emissions come from burning fossil fuels – to solve the climate crisis, renewable energy must replace fossil energy sources.

Yes. In recent years, onshore wind power has become a mature technology that is profitable without government subsidies. Alcoa entered into a long-term power agreement with Øyfjellet precisely because wind power has become price-competitive, without green certificates or other support schemes.

The infrastructure built during construction has made the mountain and surrounding areas more accessible for family outings. The area is well suited to hiking, recreation, cycling, uphill racing, fishing and skiing. The area is open to everyone year-round, with free access for non-motorised traffic.

Øyfjellet Wind AS is owned by long-term funds managed by Aquila Capital, one of Europe's most experienced renewable energy companies. The investors are largely European investors and pension funds with an environmental profile.

The licenced area covers 40 km², around 2% of the municipality's area. Roads, turbines and buildings cover roughly 2–3% of the licenced area.

No. Alcoa, Mosjøen's cornerstone industry, purchases all power produced for 15 years. Helgeland Kraft owns the public grid and connects the transmission line to Marka substation. The construction contribution covers all costs, so the development does not lead to increased grid rental costs for consumers in the area.

The licence requires us to restore nature to its original state once the licence expires. Before building foundations, roads and crane pads, we electronically recorded topographical data that can be loaded into excavators, allowing us to restore the terrain to close to its pre-construction state.

We lease the mountain and other affected areas from national and local landowners who have joined together to supply Alcoa with renewable electricity. The licence grants the right to operate Øyfjellet Wind Park for 25 years.

No. The construction contribution covers all costs involved, so the development of Øyfjellet Wind Park will not lead to increased grid rental costs for consumers in the area.

The wind park is licenced for up to 400 MW, and an agreement has been signed with Alcoa to purchase all the energy produced for 15 years.

The wind park started as a local initiative in 2011. In 2014, the Municipality of Vefsn gave its support to the application. Since then, the project has been through a thorough licencing process with approval from national authorities, and an open democratic process with adjustments following feedback from the local community.

The climate crisis and the transition to renewable energy will create a greater need for power in the future. Alcoa in Mosjøen will purchase all the power from the wind park for the next 15 years – guaranteeing opportunities for growth and helping secure hundreds of Norwegian jobs.