Prime Minister Vanhanen: Helsinki should invest in wind power

Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) has weighed in with his suggestions on how Helsinki should shake off its current dependence on coal in the supply of energy and help Finland towards its renewable energy goals.
      Vanhanen urges that Helsinki Energy (Helsingin Energia) should in the future invest part of its huge annual profits in renewable energy.
      Vanhanen says that the power company’s entire EUR 300 million annual profit should no longer be used to finance the services of the City of Helsinki.
     
According to Vanhanen, Helsinki needs to increase its share of renewable energy sources to 20 per cent. Otherwise Finland will not achieve the national goal of 38%.
      Helsinki will have to build new power plants which would exploit wind power or burn wood in order to replace the capital’s present energy sources coal and natural gas, Vanhanen said.
      Speaking at the 100th anniversary event of Helsinki Energy on Tuesday, Vanhanen said that he would like to see Helsinki to start a ”city match” with Stockholm over the use of renewable energy sources.
     
Vanhanen has already previously pointed out many times that the energy production in the Swedish capital is exemplary.
      In Stockholm, biofuel is transported by ships to the city’s power plants.
      According to the Prime Minister, it is true that investing in renewable energy sources is not cheap. However, it is better than the other predicted alternative, according to which the sea-level would rise and flood the Market Square and the Kluuvi business and commercial district in the future.
     
Speaking at the same event, Helsinki Energy’s CEO Seppo Ruohonen said that it is the company’s goal to increase the use of renewable energy sources.
      ”Our target is that our energy production would be carbon dioxide neutral by 2050”, Ruohonen announced.
      According to Ruohonen, Helsinki’s problem is a lack of space.
      Ruohonen notes further that a study should be carried out whether forest-based biomass could be converted into gas in some place outside the city, and then conveyed in pipes to Helsinki and burnt at the Vuosaari power utilities.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Burning wood chips would bring timber truck rally to Helsinki (15.9.2009)
  Helsinki Energy considers bio-fuel for Hanasaari power plant (29.2.2008)
  Renewable energy targets pose problems for cities (25.2.2008)
  Feasibility tests continue for planned inland wind power station (15.9.2009)

See also:
  Power company Helsinki Energy to set up two offshore wind parks (10.11.2008)
  Major boom in wind power projects (2.9.2008)
  Energy companies put forward ambitious offshore wind power plans (18.6.2008)
  Wind turbines to be used even in apartment buildings (13.10.2009)

Links:
  Helsingin Energia (Helsinki Energy)