• Reduce climate impact by using local, renewable energy sources (wind, solar and Nordic Sea heat).
• Enable year-round production of vegetables in a greenhouse without fossil fuels.
• Improve Åland’s degree of self-sufficiency so that the archipelago is prepared in case of a situation where electricity is not available from any other source.
• Increase production volumes and improve the quality of locally grown vegetables.
• Create new job opportunities in the archipelago municipality threatened by depopulation.

The project was planned as a good practice model of sustainable energy use in rural areas. It aimed to support Åland’s Development and Sustainability Agenda, especially Goal 6, which seeks a significant reduction in climate impact. The project was also designed to improve regional autonomy and self-sufficiency, both through local food production and access to local energy, which boosts resilience in the event of a crisis in the archipelago.

Activities

The Stormskär’s Wind project was implemented in several stages. Funding for LED greenhouse lighting was granted in November 2023, and funding for the wind turbine was granted in January 2024. Main actions carried out with help from the CAP co-financing included:

• A second-hand wind turbine was purchased from Sweden and transported to the archipelago island of Simskäla, which required careful planning and logistics due to the area’s limited infrastructure.
• To enable transport, a new road was built up a hill where the wind turbine was to be installed. A solid foundation was laid and the wind turbine erected on site. Next, an electricity connection to the greenhouse facility was built to power LED lighting and heat pumps. A parallel project was launched to install LED light fixtures to maximise the use of renewable electricity.
• The development of a smart digital energy management system and an app (created by the company itself) was an important part of the project. The software optimises electricity consumption based on weather conditions, production levels and the greenhouse’s electricity demand. The finished solution is now working stably, enabling efficient power use and the sale of any surplus electricity to the grid.

• Food production capacity in the greenhouse increases by approximately 30% in weight. The main products cultivated are spring onions, new potatoes and leaf celery.
• Project outcomes demonstrate how local, reused technology can be applied in sustainable, innovative ways in archipelago environments with limited access to mainland resources.
• Results integrated energy production, greenhouse cultivation and digital technology within a sustainable food system model that is highly transferable for rural development elsewhere.
• Energy costs are reduced as the volume of purchased energy decreases by approximately 400 000 kWh, making the business much more self-sufficient.
• The wind turbine can produce just over 2 million kWh of electricity per year, easily covering the greenhouse’s heating and lighting needs year-round. This improves the quality of the vegetables, as light is a limiting factor for both quantity and quality during long Nordic winters. The improved growing environment reduces pesticide use, resulting in vegetables with a cleaner, more natural flavour. Better product quality creates more sales opportunities and strengthens the project’s economic sustainability.
• The project contributes to producing nutritious food with a low climate footprint, which boosts sustainability and the environmental profile. This will provide both consumers and producers with added value in the form of environmental awareness and quality.
• Reduced dependence on purchased energy and pesticides will promote more ecologically sustainable farming, which can also open up new market segments that value environmentally friendly products.

Key lessons

• Stormskär’s Wind demonstrates how local, fossil-free wind and solar power can enable sustainable year-round vegetable production in an archipelago environment.
• The project combines new technology with local knowledge and innovative solutions, resulting in an energy-efficient and self-sufficient system.
• It is an inspiring example of how small actors can contribute to the climate transition through the smart use of local resources.