Wind turbines freeze in Finland: gas for $ 738, electricity for 350 euros

Arctic frosts are returning to Europe and have already covered Finland, where a new temperature record this winter was recorded in the south — minus 31.5 degrees Celsius. In such conditions, wind turbines freeze and wholesale gas prices in the country exceeded $ 700 per thousand cubic meters, and electricity — 350 euros per MWh.

Arctic frosts are returning to Europe and have covered Finland.

"In southern Finland, the temperature record of this winter was broken last night. In Lappeenranta, minus 31.5 degrees Celsius was recorded at nine in the morning," Yle writes.

The publication notes that it was even colder in Lapland — at night the temperature ranged from minus 30 to minus 35 degrees.

"The weather was milder in the central part of the country: frosts were kept within 15-20 degrees. This is due to denser clouds than in other regions of Finland," Yle added.

Frosty and windless weather hit wind farms. According to the operator Fingrid, the power of wind generation fell, for example, on the afternoon of January 30 to 119 MW. This is only 8% of the total production.

"In many areas, ice accumulates on the blades of wind turbines. Combined with weak winds, the situation has sharply reduced the capacity of the country's wind fleet," Kauppalehti writes.

They noted that icing on turbines is a common winter hazard in the Nordic countries, but this season it is much more serious than in previous years.

Frosts and falling wind generation hit gas and electricity prices. According to the NordPool exchange, the average daily wholesale cost of electricity in the country on January 30 will rise to 247 euros per MWh, and during peak hours - up to 351 euros.

Such prices are supported by expensive gas. His quotes, according to EEX, soared on January 29 to $ 738 per thousand cubic meters.

The situation is similar in In the Baltic states, where wholesale electricity is traded on January 30 at an average of 204 euros, and gas at $ 643.

It is twice as expensive for electricity and one and a half times for gas than, for example, in Germany.

As EADaily reported, by abandoning Russian gas, the Baltic States and Finland have turned into a gas corner of Europe, which is completely dependent on LNG supplies, and in the cold they have to pay the most money for gas in the European Union. Gas shortage on the Ukraine only aggravates the situation. The Inchukaln storage facility has already used up all the gas pumped last year and switched to old reserves.