Helsingin Energia - Annual Report 2008

Climate and sustainable development

Wise energy consumption

In 2008, the significance of energy efficiency in the climate change abatement was raised to a completely new level. The EU energy and climate package as well as the national and regional programmes emphasised the significance of energy efficiency.

Energy efficiency is Helsingin Energia's strength. It is implemented in combined heat and power production, district heating and district cooling as well as in advice on the use of energy. In 2008, ecologically efficient combined production accounted for over 90% of energy procurement.

The year 2008 was the first operating year according to the new energy efficiency agreement concluded between trade and industry and the Ministry of Employment and the Economy. At Helsingin Energia, integration of energy efficiency matters in the operating and management systems and the result indicators was enhanced. The aim is also to develop new and innovative energy saving services.

Good energy consumption reporting services are important in monitoring consumption habits and in sensible allocation of saving measures. In connection with the annual electricity and heat consumption report, Helsingin Energia's customers receive information on both their own energy consumption and on that of their reference group. The expanded scope of remote reading of electricity meters allows for improved reporting services.

For over 30 years, energy-saving advice has mainly been the responsibility of the Energy Advisory Centre, where customers, interest groups and schoolchildren are received. The Energy Advisory Centre's advice services are also offered online on the new energianeuvoja.fi site. Apart from personal advice, lending of electricity consumption meters is also a popular service. In lending of consumption meters, we have started co-operation with Helsinki libraries.

More renewable energy sources

Helsingin Energia aims at increasing the proportion of low-emission, emission-free and renewable energy sources in its procurement structure. According to its energy policy strategy, the city of Helsinki aims at increasing the proportion of renewable energy to 20 %.

Along with increasing use of renewable sources of energy, Helsingin Energia is actively involved in the development of new technology. Apart from fuels and technology, the main objective is reduction of energy consumption.

In the operating year 2008, reports on the availability of biomass, the potential for using waste and biomasses, experimental combustion of logging residue, and planning of future multiple fuel power plants advanced. New wind power station projects are investigated through Suomen Merituuli Oy and Hyötytuuli Oy.

In addition, co-combustion of pellets in pulverised coal boilers, additional construction of hydropower, carbon dioxide recovery, and replacement of oil at peak-load heating plants continue to be studied. Helsingin Energia's subsidiaries and associated companies carry out considerable upgrades of hydropower efficiency in Kemijoki and Kymijoki power plants. Helsingin Energia utilizes the heat of waste water and the coolness of sea water by means of heat pumps.