Clean energy transition roadmap

A rapid transition to a clean energy system is essential, especially due to the urgency of climate change mitigation and the abandonment of fossil fuels. However, the transition also has other strategic objectives. These include

• improving energy security,
• reducing air pollution,
• enhancing economic growth and employment,
• promoting circular economy,
• reducing energy costs,
• improving public health,
• promoting technological innovations,
• reducing environmental loads and
• improving the resilience of the energy system.

The transition must not cause significant harm to the environment, nature or people

A sustainable and just transition to a clean energy system requires that the transition does not cause significant harm to the environment, nature or people. Solving these challenges requires reliable information, and the utilisation of this information in the planning and implementation of steering instruments and regulation, as well as the necessary investments.

Key questions to be answered

• What are the main factors affecting the success of the energy system transition in Finland, and what kind of bottlenecks and obstacles are associated with the success of the transition?

• How can Finland achieve the national and EU climate and energy targets and regulations?

• How much wind and solar power and other clean energy production are needed in the clean energy system transition?

• What is the development of energy demand at national level and in different energy use sectors?

• How much industrial investments utilising clean electricity (including hydrogen production, carbon capture, utilisation and storage) are needed in the clean energy system transition?

• How much and what types of energy storage solutions are needed in the clean energy system transition?

• What are the impacts of investments in the clean energy system on energy transfer?

• How is the energy system based on renewable energy sources prepared for fluctuations in electricity production in the short and long term?

• What kind of raw material needs are associated with the clean energy system transition, where do the raw materials come from, and what are the limitations and opportunities involved?

• What kind of opportunities does Finland have for increasing the production of raw materials, which are critical and strategic for the energy transition, from extractive waste areas, bearing in mind the technical factors, as well as the impacts of the potential exploitation of waste areas from an environmental, social and economic perspective?

• What methods can be used to systematically support mineral exploration in Finland (national mineral exploration concept), and what additional information the application of the concept in Peräpohja area produces on the mineral potential of the area?

• Investments in clean electricity production depend on the prospective development of clean electricity consumption, whereas industrial investments requiring affordable and clean electricity depend on the prospective availability of affordable and clean electricity. How can investments in clean electricity production and in the industry that consumes it be promoted?

• Wind and solar power investments can cause deforestation and exacerbate the associated impacts on biodiversity, carbon sinks and water bodies. In addition, offshore wind power involves issues essential to marine ecology. How could wind and solar power be located in a way that does not cause significant harm to the environment and what is its scale dependence?

• How can clean energy investments be steered so that they cause as little harmful environmental impacts as possible (the so-called ‘do no significant harm’ principle)?

• How is Russian energy connected to the Finnish energy system and which sectors consume it?

• What are the main environmental impacts of clean energy system technologies and what are the factors they consist of?

• What are the impacts of the investments and steering instruments required to implement the energy transition on the national and regional economy?

• Will labour market mismatches (e.g. skills and regional availability of labour) slow down the realisation of economic potentials?

• What are the broader fairness issues associated with the energy transition and how should these be addressed?

• How does the energy transition treat different groups of citizens and companies, and how should possible forms of regulation / support policy be targeted?

• How acceptable are low-carbon forms of energy production and infrastructure among citizens and how can sufficient acceptability be achieved?

• How should energy security be implemented in the context of a new energy system and growing climate threats?

Implementing the clean transition requires extensive cooperation

Work Package 6 of the RePower-CEST project provides a strategic roadmap for the clean energy transition. A large number of experts from different fields will be involved in the work, through interviews and workshops. The aim is to create a vision and a strategic overview of the feasibility of the clean energy transition, so that the requirements for climate, environmental sustainability, fairness and security are met.

The results of the other work packages of the project will be used as background material. The outcome of the work will be a synthesis of the sustainability perspectives, indicators, approaches and key data needs required to implement the clean energy transition. 

The Finnish Environment Institute is responsible for the content of this page, as part of the REPower-CEST project.