Page 34 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2019 publication

34 Winter 2019 European Energy Innovation

COMMUNICATION

Turku aims for carbon
neutrality by 2029

According to Mayor Minna Arve, Turku has a responsibility to set an example in climate work
because it can. At the same time, the city will become more comfortable, providing a safer and
more fluent everyday life.
‘We have a responsibility to set an the forest industry. In 2020, the share
Turku aims to cut down its example, because we can. At the of coal at the plant will be only ten
greenhouse gas emissions same time, however, the city will per cent. In the near future, we can
enough to ensure carbon become more comfortable, providing leave coal out altogether.’
neutrality by 2029, when the
city celebrates its 800th anniversary. a safer and more fluent everyday life.’

Through its partner companies, Turku

However, carbon neutrality is only Getting rid of fossil fuels Energia has also increased its shares

one important step on the way The CEO of Turku Energia, Timo of wind power and hydropower,

towards a climate positive Turku Honkanen, says that a transfer and particularly the share of wind

and Finland. This would allow more towards renewable energies in power is expected to increase in the

carbon to be bound than is emitted electricity and heat production is future. The Kakolanmäki Wastewater

into the atmosphere. already rapid. Turku Energia is a Treatment Plant uses heat pumps to

company owned by the City of Turku. collect waste heat energy, which can

‘The residents and decision-makers then be utilised in the production of

in Turku have a strong climate will: ‘The multi-fuel power plant producing district heating and cooling.

our ambitious climate plan has been heat and electricity in the region

approved unanimously by the City utilises primarily renewable sources Heat from the ground?

Council,’ says Mayor Minna Arve. of energy, such as by-products from Turku is also considering an exciting

new field.

Ice hockey star Saku Koivu, Mayor Minna Arve, Chairperson of the City ‘We are examining the possibility to
Council Elina Rantanen, Chairperson of the City Board Lauri Kattelus utilise the geothermal heat of the
(Photo by Risto Lahtinen)

ground. According to the plan, a hole

seven kilometres deep would be

drilled in the Turku region, from which

heat would be conducted to above

ground. According to the calculations,

the hole could produce up to ten per

cent of the heat needed by the entire

city for a quarter of a century.’

Honkanen emphasises that the
decision has not yet been made.
Turku wishes to see the experiences
from a similar project in the City of
Espoo first.

Turku Energia is also helping its
customers to find environmentally
sustainable solutions.

‘We recently produced a solar power
plant of 1,500 panels on the roofs
of the Meyer Turku shipyard, for
example.’

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