Wind power needs to be supported by EUR 174 million per year in order for Finland to reach its goal in the use of renewable energy.
The aim is to produce six per cent of the country’s electricity through wind power by the year 2020.
According to a report produced at the Lappeenranta University of Technology, wind energy still requires substantial financial backing, for the investments are still too expensive when set against the benefits.
The examination of the matter was commissioned by the Finnish Forest Industries Federation.
The forestry industry’s interest is explained by the fact that it fears it may end up picking up the tab for the collected supply tariffs.
The Ministry of Employment and the Economy is currently looking into how the compensations should be levied.
Professor of renewable energy systems Esa Vakkilainen estimates that from society’s point of view it might be more remunerative to allow the forestry industry to invest in wood chip energy, rather than collecting fees for the additional building of wind power resources.
The greenhouse emissions of wind power are minimal, but according to Vakkilainen even biofuel emissions are considerably lower than those of fossil fuels.
Furthermore, compared with wind power, the use of biomass is better suited for producing heat for industrial and residential needs.
The forestry industry consumes nearly a third of all the electricity produced in Finland, but on the other hand it also produces a considerable amount of the country’s renewable energy.
“It makes no sense to suck those monies out of the country’s largest producer of renewable energy”, says energy policy counsellor Ahti Fagerblom of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation.
