Will Finland use renewable energy only by 2050? Minister Olli Rehn calls for a scenario to see what this would require

(finnish-forest-association, 27 Apr 2016) Following a proposal by non-governmental organisations, the Ministry of Employment and the Economy decided to study what efforts would be needed for Finland to move completely over to renewable energy by 2050. This scenario is, however, only one of three being prepared by the Ministry.

The scenario work at the Ministry of Employment and the Economy is part of a report looking at how Finland will implement the Paris climate convention of December 2015 and the climate and energy targets set by the European Union for 2030. By now, Finland has more or less implemented the targets set by the EU for 2020.

”The EU’s overall target for the share of renewable energy production for 2020 is 20 percent, but for Finland, the target is one of the strictest among the member states: 38 percent,” said Mr. Olli Rehn , Minister of Economic Affairs, at the opening ceremony of the 40th Forest Academy for Decision Makers in Finland.

According to Rehn, Finland’s 2020 target is well under way to being reached. ”The share is something between 35 and 37 percent at the moment, and once the bioproducts mill in Äänekoski, central Finland, starts its operation in 2017, the share will rise by two percentage points,” said Rehn.

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finnish-forest-association, 27 Apr 2016: Will Finland use renewable energy only by 2050? Minister Olli Rehn calls for a scenario to see what this would require