IEA review team completes its five-day visit to assess Finland’s energy policy
A review team from the International Energy Agency (IEA) has been in Finland this week (27 November–1 December 2017) to carry out an in-depth review Finland’s energy policy. The emphasis of the review this time has been on emissions reductions in sectors not included in the EU Emissions Trading System (the non-ETS sector), especially transport, and the sustainable use of forest biomass and future challenges in the electricity market.
The review team conducted its work at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, and during the week it met key players in the energy sector and held discussions with different authorities and operators, and with representatives of interest groups and non-governmental organisations.
“Over the course of the week we have gone through an impressive amount of information. I would like to thank the review team for its efforts and the in-depth discussions. I’m sure the forthcoming report will be of help to us in developing our energy policy,” said Riku Huttunen, Director General of the Energy Department in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
The IEA country review is a peer review, and this year the team of ten experts assessing Finland is made up of representatives from the IEA Secretariat, the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), the European Commission and IEA member countries, including Denmark, Norway and Australia.
“Fascinating peer learning in Finland for a team of energy experts from all over the world. Finland has a fascinating energy system and has made good progress in the last five years, but now there are new challenges stemming from the Paris Agreement”, said Lars Georg Jensen, IEA review team leader from the Danish Energy Agency.
“Taking the lead in the longer term perspective towards 2050 will allow seizing clean energy technology and innovation opportunities. The IEA review will support the government in achieving these goals”, Jensen continued.
After the visit, the IEA Secretariat together with the review team will draft a written report on the country review. The final report will be published in the latter part of 2018. It will present an assessment of the current state of energy policy and will provide recommendations on further policy actions that are needed.
The previous country reviews for Finland were conducted in 2007 and 2013. In both of these Finland won recognition for the policy choices it has made and for the diversity of its domestic energy production.
Inquiries:
Katja Tuokko, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 50 47043