IEA review: exemplary management of energy policy in Finland

085/2008

The Finnish energy policy is widely commended in the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) country review published today, 26 March, in Helsinki. According to the report, which is based on the work conducted by an international review team, Finland has managed its energy policy well and has made progress in its policy measures since the previous country review completed in 2004. The report was presented to Mauri Pekkarinen, Minister of Economic Affairs, by Nobuo Tanaka, IEA Executive Director.

“The IEA report reviewing Finland’s energy policy is a positive read. The organisation’s recommendations are in line with the key message of Finland’s energy and climate strategy currently under preparation,” stated Minister Pekkarinen.

“Already, Finland has substantially increased funds allocated to energy and climate research and the related technology and, in the next few years, this direction is intended to be reinforced in various ways. Very soon we will announce the establishment of a strategic centre of excellence for energy and environmental technology.”

                                     
“In order for Finland to meet its climate and energy obligations, the crucial issue is the improvement of energy saving and efficiency. According to the preliminary estimates, the energy saving need by 2020 would total even more than 50 TWh per year”.

The report finds that Finland has succeeded in finding good, practical solutions for promoting the aspects of energy security as well as environmental sustainability and financial efficiency. The report also acknowledges the diversity of domestic energy production and its reliance on multiple energy sources, highlighting particularly nuclear power, biomass and hydropower.

Characterised as the leading R&D country in energy technology, Finland also received positive feedback for its pragmatic approach in meeting the international emissions objectives, and for being capable of combining environmental perspectives with decision-making in the energy sector.

With its focus on energy technology, the report mentioned the following as the related key success factors: successful decision-making, stable financing, strong national and regional research organisations, proactive international co-operation and public-private co-operation. In the IEA’s opinion, long-term measures could, however, be further reinforced.

In the future, more attention should be paid to strengthening the long-term policy measures related to energy efficiency. Furthermore, Finland is recommended to continue taking account of the energy security aspects and to focus – in addition to the security of imported energy supply – on the diversity of domestic energy production and new renewable energy sources.

The IEA’s 11-member review team visited Finland last May, meeting representatives of the Finnish authorities, industry, energy producers, energy end-users and environmental associations. The published report is based on these discussions and material submitted by Finnish representatives. The review team was chaired by Peter Rohlin from the Swedish Energy Agency.

The International Energy Agency IEA is an energy organisation with 27 OECD member countries. The organisation’s tasks include monitoring the oil markets, collaboration between member countries in case of disruptions in the supply of oil, and other extensive co-operation in the field of energy policies. The IEA member countries are committed to common objectives in their energy policies. Based on these objectives, the IEA conducts a review on each member country’s energy policy every four years.

For further information:

Taisto Turunen, Director General, MEE, tel. +358 (0)10 606 4700

Kim Fyhr, Senior Adviser, MEE, tel. 358 (0)10 606 4024

IEA press

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