The Finnish government is currently compiling measures to accelerate Finland’s growth. The role of renewable energy as an enabler of economic growth is essential. Therefore, Renewables Finland has prepared a list of measures to promote the green transition and drive Finland’s growth. Finland now has a unique opportunity to leverage the potential of renewable energy to support the energy transition and economic growth, but this requires that renewable energy investment projects are not hindered.
Finland’s extensive size, geographical structure, strong municipal democracy, and the Finnish model of property taxation provide excellent strengths to succeed in the global competition for renewable energy and the industrial investments it enables. The challenge lies in how we capitalize on these strengths and avoid decisions that would harm the investment environment.
“Renewable energy enables new industrial investments. Affordable, clean, and reliable electricity is a highly valuable asset in the European market when competing for investments. Going forward, our investment environment must remain stable and trustworthy. As the economy begins to grow, the framework must be solid, and we cannot afford self-inflicted setbacks,” states Anni Mikkonen, CEO of Renewables Finland.
“Our democratic municipal processes and the fair Finnish model of property taxation supporting local acceptance are admired and even envied, for instance, by Sweden. The foundation for making renewable energy an even greater success story is in place. Therefore, I expect the government to take concrete actions, such as enabling wind power development in Eastern Finland and establishing a reasonable solution for distance regulations, where the current policy deserves to be formalized,” summarizes Heikki Peltomaa, Chairman of the Board of Renewables Finland.
Renewables Finland has proposed around 20 measures to support Finland’s economic growth. Examples include:
- A support mechanism for electrifying industrial processes
- Construction of hydrogen pipelines
- Integration of renewable energy production into the government’s industrial park model to support off-grid processing projects
- A state-coordinated roadmap for domestic ammonia production
- Avoiding unnecessary additional regulations – the current noise regulation framework already defines minimum distances
- Modernizing area surveillance and aligning wind power development in Eastern Finland with practical and actionable solutions
- Accelerating zoning and permitting processes by eliminating redundant appeal procedures
- Reducing property taxes for offshore wind and solar power to align with onshore wind power
Download
Proposals by Renewables Finland for the Growth Summit (in Finnish)
Media Presentation Slides (in Finnish)
Contacts:
- Anni Mikkonen, CEO, Renewables Finland, +358 40 771 6114, anni.mikkonen@suomenuusiutuvat.fi
- Heikki Peltomaa, Chairman, Renewables Finland, +358 40 679 7563, h.peltomaa@wpd.fi
- Matias Ollila, Director of Advocacy, Renewables Finland, +358 40 124 7411, matias.ollila@suomenuusiutuvat.fi