130 E. HEISKANEN ET AL.
from forest residues used by the pulp and paper industry. However,
policymakers have gradually grasped that other renewable energy sources
need to be developed, and increasing support has been directed to the
development of wind power. Renewable energy amounted to 36% of the
total energy production in 2017 (Statistics Finland 2018c). The current
government aims to increase renewable energy sources to more than
50% and increase domestic energy provision to more than 55% by 2030.
Additionally, Finland aims to phase out coal and halve the use of mineral
oil (MoEE 2017). These developments place new challenges on energy
policy. Among others, the envisaged coal phase-out challenges the district heating system of cities like Helsinki, where a large share of district
heating is produced with coal-fired CHP combustion. This has been a
cheap and reliable source of energy for decades, and when introduced,
it cleaned up the air in cities (Apajalahti 2018). However, bioenergy
based CHP is not deemed feasible for Helsinki—hence, the capital city
is plunged into a search for new heating solutions: ideally ones that combine the flexibility and amenity of district heating with fossil-free energy
sources like heat pumps (Rinne et al. 2018).
The dominant approach to energy has emphasized technological
advances. Indeed, energy efficiency and renewable energy have gained
momentum from the notion that Finnish export industries might benefit
from innovation. There is growing consideration for behavioural, situational and systemic approaches, but none of these has yet systematically
permeated the energy policy mindset (Karhunmaa 2018; Haukkala 2018).
Local authorities have an important, but hitherto somewhat neglected
role in energy policy. Municipalities own a large share of the energy
production and distribution system. Moreover, municipalities have an
important role in delivering energy efficiency policies through land use
planning, detailed city plans, and implementation of the requirements
set out in the building code. Moreover, large cities develop land for
construction and allocate it to construction companies, and can place
requirements on new buildings through land release requirements. For
example, they can place their own more stringent requirements concerning energy efficiency or building systems that enable residents to control
their energy use.
Energy companies have a responsibility to provide energy advice to
their customers. Virtually all Finnish electricity consumers have automatic meter reading installed, so most households can view their historical and comparative electricity consumption data online in almost real
from forest residues used by the pulp and paper industry. However,
policymakers have gradually grasped that other renewable energy sources
need to be developed, and increasing support has been directed to the
development of wind power. Renewable energy amounted to 36% of the
total energy production in 2017 (Statistics Finland 2018c). The current
government aims to increase renewable energy sources to more than
50% and increase domestic energy provision to more than 55% by 2030.
Additionally, Finland aims to phase out coal and halve the use of mineral
oil (MoEE 2017). These developments place new challenges on energy
policy. Among others, the envisaged coal phase-out challenges the district heating system of cities like Helsinki, where a large share of district
heating is produced with coal-fired CHP combustion. This has been a
cheap and reliable source of energy for decades, and when introduced,
it cleaned up the air in cities (Apajalahti 2018). However, bioenergy
based CHP is not deemed feasible for Helsinki—hence, the capital city
is plunged into a search for new heating solutions: ideally ones that combine the flexibility and amenity of district heating with fossil-free energy
sources like heat pumps (Rinne et al. 2018).
The dominant approach to energy has emphasized technological
advances. Indeed, energy efficiency and renewable energy have gained
momentum from the notion that Finnish export industries might benefit
from innovation. There is growing consideration for behavioural, situational and systemic approaches, but none of these has yet systematically
permeated the energy policy mindset (Karhunmaa 2018; Haukkala 2018).
Local authorities have an important, but hitherto somewhat neglected
role in energy policy. Municipalities own a large share of the energy
production and distribution system. Moreover, municipalities have an
important role in delivering energy efficiency policies through land use
planning, detailed city plans, and implementation of the requirements
set out in the building code. Moreover, large cities develop land for
construction and allocate it to construction companies, and can place
requirements on new buildings through land release requirements. For
example, they can place their own more stringent requirements concerning energy efficiency or building systems that enable residents to control
their energy use.
Energy companies have a responsibility to provide energy advice to
their customers. Virtually all Finnish electricity consumers have automatic meter reading installed, so most households can view their historical and comparative electricity consumption data online in almost real