Objectives
Clean Energy System Transition (REPower-CEST) project has three main objectives:
- To create a comprehensive view of the solutions, impacts, implementation challenges and opportunities related to the clean energy transition and replacing fossil fuels.
- To produce information, tools and service concepts needed to analyse, manage and solve the challenges and risks related to the environmental, economic and social dimensions of the clean energy transition.
- To develop a roadmap based on a broad knowledge base for implementing a sustainable and just clean energy transition in Finland by 2035
The project will produce materials, models and tools to support decision-making. The primary objective is to develop a roadmap for implementing a sustainable and fair clean energy transition in Finland by 2035.
Work Packages (WP)
WP1: Analysis and modelling of the current and future energy system
Work Package 1 will examine Finland’s energy system, which means the production, transfer, storage and consumption of clean energy, energy efficiency, and demand-side flexibility, by taking Finland into account as part of the European Union. The goal of the work package is to improve understanding of the importance of key factors related to the energy system when transitioning to a clean energy system and to propose solutions to the identified challenges. Estimates will be prepared using selected case studies and scenario modelling. The leader of the work package is Senior Scientist Tomi J. Lindroos (VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland).
WP2 Life-cycle resource needs and climate and environmental impacts of the clean energy transition
Work Package 2 will compile and produce data and methods for assessing the life-cycle climate, nature and environmental impacts of technologies related to the clean energy system transition. The goal of the work package is to identify
- which environmental effects are the most relevant in terms of clean energy system technologies,
- which factors affect them,
- how environmental impacts can be assessed, and
- how harmful impacts can be managed and minimised.
The work package will utilise various evaluation and simulation methods at the system and process levels as well as spatial data sets. Key focuses include specifying the greenhouse gas emissions and natural resource consumption resulting from new energy production and storage technologies as well as the climate and biodiversity impacts associated with land use and land use planning. Different needs and requirements arising from legislation and standards will be taken into account in the format and quality requirements of the data being produced. The leader of the work package is Leading Researcher Laura Sokka (Finnish Environment Institute).
WP3 Raw materials that are critical for the clean energy transition and reporting in accordance with the relevant legislation
The goal of Work Package 3 is to increase knowledge about the value chains and availability of raw materials that are critical to the energy transition in Finland and the EU. The work package will examine how to increase the availability of critical raw materials from different sources, including accumulation of bedrock data and raw material studies in extractive waste sites. This work will promote implementation of the national obligations outlined in the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), taking into account responsible production and examining the regional impacts of mining activities. The work package will also improve information management related to extractive waste by means of database and IT solutions. The leader of the work package is Senior Scientist Mari Kivinen (Geological Survey of Finland).
WP4 Economic and employment impacts of the clean energy transition
The goal of Work Package 4 is to provide a better understanding of the economic and employment impacts resulting from the clean energy transition and how to manage them. The work package will develop a model for assessing the economic and employment impacts of regional investments (production, added value, employment, tax revenue). This will be used to assess the overall direct and indirect economic and employment impacts of energy investments on a national basis, by region, by technology and in terms of new industrial activity. The work package will also identify labour needs in the clean energy transition, the parties in the most vulnerable financial position, and prepare a plan for economic instruments to support those who are most at risk. In addition, it will estimate the external costs of the clean transition, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The leader of the work package is Senior Research Scientist Santtu Karhinen (Finnish Environment Institute).
WP5 Policy analyses for energy security and a just transition
Work Package 5 will examine the possible impacts of the energy transition on energy security and social justice. The goal of the work package is to create a picture of the broader operating environment for the energy transition from the perspectives of safety and justice and to produce estimates of the impacts that public steering related to the energy transition will have on security and justice. The work package will provide an up-to-date picture of what elements the energy security of a new clean energy system encompasses and what dimensions of justice are included in different technological solutions. The work package will utilise document and interview analyses, meta-analysis of previous studies, and action research. The leader of the work package is Research Professor Paula Kivimaa (Finnish Environment Institute).
WP6: Clean energy transition roadmap 2035
The goal of Work Package 6 is to compile a strategic roadmap for the clean energy transition through a continuous expert process that involves stakeholders in the roadmap process by organising workshops and interviews. The roadmap process will create a vision and strategic overview of the possibilities for implementing a clean energy transition that meets the requirements for climate and environmental sustainability, justice and safety. The results of work packages 1-5 will be used as background material in the roadmap process, and the outcome will be a synthesis of the sustainability perspectives, indicators, approaches and key data needs required to implement the clean energy transition. The leader of the work package is Leading Researcher Sampo Soimakallio (Finnish Environment Institute).
WP7 Management, reporting and communication
Work Package 7 will consist of managing the consortium, coordinating co-operation between work packages, reporting, communication, organising events and implementing the datasets being compiled. The leader of the work package is Leading Researcher Sampo Soimakallio (Finnish Environment Institute).
Further information
Project consortium as a whole, sub-project of the Finnish Environment Institute
- Sampo Soimakallio, Development Manager, Leading Researcher, Finnish Environment Institute, tel. +358 295 251 803, sampo.soimakallio@syke.fi
Sub-project of the Geological Survey of Finland
- Mari Kivinen, Senior Scientist, Geological Survey of Finland, tel. +358 295 032 414, mari.kivinen@gtk.fi
Sub-project of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Tiina Koljonen, Research Team Leader, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland +358 20 722 5806, tiina.koljonen@vtt.fi