Page 31 - European Energy Innovation - spring 2018 publication

Spring 2018 European Energy Innovation 31
LIVELY BIOENERGY SCENE
Finland is number two in Europe in utilization of
renewable energy. The binding goal for 2020 (38%
of gross final energy consumption) was exceeded
already in 2014, and the 2017 figure is likely to be up to 70% bioenergy (currently: 40%). In February 2018,
the highest ever. Finland’s success with renewable energy
largely relies on its extensive use of bioenergy.
Finnish bioenergy is based on utilization of sidestreams of
forest management, such as harvest residues and thinnings,
and sidestreams of forest industry, such as black liquor,
chips, sawdust and bark. The amount of energy wood
taken directly out of the forest is only around 11-12% of
the total harvest, while the rest flows to industrial use.
The use of bioenergy increased by 125% between 1990
and 2016, while the carbon sink almost doubled. This has
contributed to a strong decline in GHG emissions of 45%
when all sectors of the economy are taken into account. The
respective average figure in EU-28 is below 30%.
Plans to continue further expansion of renewable energy and
bioenergy have been laid out as part of an effort to achieve
carbon neutrality by 2045. The private sector is strongly
committed to efforts towards this goal. During the last few
months, several new bioenergy plants have started operation.
Metsägroup’s new Äänekoski bioproduct mill increases
Finland’s renewable energy use by 2% alone. In Naantali, a
new CHP plant was inaugurated in December 2017 utilizing
up to 70% bioenergy and reducing CO2 emissions by 0.42
Mt. In October 2017, Fortum replaced light fuel oil in one
of its heat plants in Espoo with biobased pyrolysis oil. In
December 2017, the local energy utility in Tampere informed
it will apply for an environmental permit for a 200-240 MWth
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
COMMUNICATION
CHP plant retrofit utilising bioenergy up to 100%. In January
2018, the local energy utility in Oulu announced a plan to
modernise its CHP plant (new capacity: 215 MWth) to use
the energy utility in Helsinki (Helen) opened a 92 MWth
heat-only pellet plant, which replaces coal in energy supply.
Only a few kilometers north, the local energy company of
Vantaa is retrofitting a CHP plant in Martinlaakso to use more
bioenergy and cut fossil fuel use by 34% (0.15 MtCO2).
Several investments into production of transport biofuels are
also in the pipeline. Sunshine Kaidi has been considering
a large investment in production of renewable diesel and
biogasoline in Kemi since 2016. The new REDII Directive
will play a significant role in the final investment decision.
In eastern Finland, in Lieksa, a plan to produce bio-oils is
progressing. In Haapavesi, Kanteleen Voima Oy is preparing
a new biorefinery producing ethanol that is going to be
integrated in an existing, but mothballed condensing power
plant. In February 2018, the forest industry giant UPM
announced a new plan – even larger than Sunshine Kaidi’s – to
expand its biofuel production by 0.5 million tonnes in Kotka. l
Contact Details:
Harri Laurikka / CEO, Dr. Tech.
Bioenergy Association of Finland
Kaisaniemenkatu 4 A
FIN-00100 Helsinki
+358 40 1630 465
harri.laurikka(a)bioenergia.fi
@harrilaurikka
www.bioenergia.fi