ArticleSustainability

“Energy independence, please!” say the Finns

06.09.2022
Tags: 
  • co-operation,
  • energy storage,
  • onshore wind power,
  • solar power,
  • sustainability
Ilmatar

Ilmatar

Energy self-sufficiency and renewable energy – these are the two most important energy issues for Finns today. The consumer survey commissioned by Ilmatar also reveals many other interesting details about Finns’ energy thinking: such as the fact that Finns are by far the most positive towards renewables, even more so than nuclear power.  

The ongoing war in Europe has reinforced Finnish attitudes towards energy self-sufficiency. Alongside self-sufficiency, the shift to renewable energy sources to mitigate climate change is seen as increasingly important.  

One thing is clear in Finnish energy thinking: Finns want to get rid of Russian energy immediately. Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and rising energy prices have made the issues of energy origin and domestic energy supply a central part of social debate and decision-making, as well as of public interest.  

86% of Finns believe that energy sources from Russia should be abandoned. More than 90% feel that Finland should be more self-sufficient in energy sources. Alongside energy self-sufficiency, there is also growing interest in renewable, decentralised forms of energy, which are seen as a solution to increasing domestic energy production. Only 17% of respondents say that the situation in Russia has had no impact on their views on renewable energy.  

Highlights show that the situation in Russia has led to a more positive attitude towards renewable energy, especially among older age groups.  

According to Jussi Mäkinen, Ilmatar’s Head of Project Development, wind power has been feared until a decade ago. This fear has proved to be unfounded and even counterproductive, as people have tried to put the brakes on development.  

– Now we are paying a high price for the slowdown in our electricity bills, says Mäkinen.  

As for the future, Mäkinen says wind power is the only form of energy production that could be brought to Finland in significant quantities on market terms within this decade. The potential is also there today.  

– The current installed wind power capacity is already enough to push down the price of electricity in Finland very low when there is good wind over large areas. If you’re dreading expensive electricity bills, you can improve your situation for the coming winters by switching to renewable energy. This way, you can continue to support the expansion of cheaper electricity production in Finland in the future, Mäkinen says.  

Growing concern about climate change  

A growing number of Finns are concerned about mitigating climate change, and this is also reflected in attitudes towards energy production. The global political situation alone does not explain the interest in renewable energy production. A quarter of Finns stress that the switch to renewables should be driven primarily by climate change itself, rather than by Russia.  

– Finns have a great desire to increase renewable electricity production. More than half of Finns think that not enough electricity is produced in Finland from renewable energy sources. Solar power is by far the most positive, but support for wind power has also increased as awareness grows and myths crumble, says Mäkinen.  

The good news is that today, energy independence, moderate electricity prices and action on climate change come in one package in the form of renewable energy production.  

Attitudes towards wind power are becoming more positive as a result of the information  

Finnish attitudes towards renewable energy production are changing. For renewable energy production in particular, the prevailing attitude towards wind power has become more positive: 60% of Finns are now interested in buying wind power.  

22% of the survey participants had changed their attitude towards wind power, a change that is particularly pronounced among the older age group. The majority (84%) had a more positive attitude towards wind power, and the clearest reason for this change was that people had become better informed about wind power.  

However, some persistent prejudices remain. Mäkinen points out that the effects of wind power are now very well known and that there are no particular risks associated with wind power.

Almost 80% of the survey respondents agreed that wind power is environmentally friendly and non-polluting. However, respondents wondered whether there is enough wind in Finland: a third admitted they did not know how reliable a source of energy wind is. 

Wind turbine blades rotate at altitudes where there is far more wind than at ground level. However, the energy production of the entire electricity system cannot rely on just one energy source; Finland must have the ability to use energy production resources in a versatile way.

The study also promises a positive wind for wind power in the future. Of the total supply, 30% say they intend to switch entirely to renewable energy in the future. Among the respondents, young people and women were the most enthusiastic. Raising awareness of the potential of wind power and other renewable energies is important, as the survey shows that the more respondents knew about wind power and other renewable energies, the more positive they felt about them.  

More broadly, attitudes towards energy production are accentuated by gender and age. For example, men are significantly more positive than women about fossil fuels. Men are also much more positive than women about nuclear power and less willing to switch their electricity contract to solar or wind power (34%) than women (47%).  

Energy self-sufficiency to control electricity prices  

Finland is projected to become energy self-sufficient within a few years. This will require investment in renewable energy production and faster licensing. Cheaper electricity is on the cards as new power generation plants come on stream quickly. But how can you reduce your electricity bill?  

Ilmatar’s Head of trading, Mikko Peltonen, advises, among other things, to lower the temperature.  

– Heating your home and water is the biggest contributor to your electricity bill. Lower room temperatures and shorter showers reduce the bill, says Peltonen.  

So it’s important to spend wisely when electricity is expensive.  

– It is not worth keeping underfloor heating hot just for comfort if you want to avoid excessive electricity bills. Today, we also have many electrical appliances on standby, and it’s a good idea to switch them off when they’re not in use. Less dirty laundry can be washed in cooler water, for example 30 degrees Celsius. There are many ways to do this, and you should consciously monitor your own consumption to see how it affects your electricity bill, Peltonen encourages. 

This is how the survey was conducted  

The survey, commissioned by Ilmatar, was carried out in Norstat Finland’s online panel from 18.7.-24.7.2022. 1,011 Finns aged 18-74 completed the survey. The sample was nationally representative by gender, age and region. The overall margin of error is approximately 3.1 percentage points in the direction of the survey. 

Tags: 
  • co-operation,
  • energy storage,
  • onshore wind power,
  • solar power,
  • sustainability