Energy efficiency
The world's primary energy demand is expected to grow annually by 1.6 percent on average between the years 2006 and 2030, increasing as much as 45 percent in total. At the same time, a vast amount of energy is going to waste. For example, two thirds of the fuel used in electricity production is lost as waste heat.
Due to its energy-demanding industry, cold climate and long distances, Finland has invested in energy efficiency for decades, covering the entire chain from energy production to its end use.
Finnish technologies excel in various areas including:
- Combined heat and power generation (CHP) or co-generation
- District heating and cooling
- Efficient industrial processes
- Automation and environmental measurements
- Smart grids and power electronics.
For example the International Energy Agency (IEA) has stated that Finland is the 'model for the world' in co-generation with high efficiency and low emissions.
This and other 'model for the world' solutions are now within your reach via the Cleantech Finland® network.
Voluntary energy efficiency agreements
Based on voluntary energy efficiency agreements, Finnish companies have invested over EUR 377 million in energy efficiency during the period 1998–2007. These investments have resulted in energy savings of 7.35 terawatt hours - comparable to the district heat consumption of the city of Helsinki.
The agreements will play a central role in the national implementation of the EU Energy Services Directive applying to companies that are not part of the emissions trading scheme. The goal is to make their energy consumption 9 percent more efficient by 2016.
Facts of the sector:
- The Finnish energy production system is among the world’s cleanest with carbon dioxide emissions per produced kilowatt-hour below 300 kWh/kg CO2.
- Co-generation makes it possible to achieve a total efficiency of 80–90 percent, or even higher. Fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions are roughly 30 percent less compared to generating heat and power separately.
- For instance, co-generation saves 11 percent of Finland’s primary energy consumption annually.
- In the city of Helsinki, district heat, district cooling and electricity are produced on a large scale in a single process. The emissions have decreased and the air quality in Helsinki has improved considerably since the 1990s – despite the fact that energy production has increased by more than 60 percent. The city’s energy company has received awards from the UN and the EU.
