Finland is one of the last countries in the world still burning peat. Peat has high global warming emissions and environmental concerns. It can be compared to brown coal (lignite) or even worse than this lowest rank of coal. Peat is associated with high greenhouse gas emissions and has been the subject of environmental concerns in Finland. According to IEA the Finnish subsidies for peat in 2007-2010 undermined the goal to reduce CO2 emissions and counteracted other environmental policies and The European Union emissions trading scheme. Peat plays a notable role in Finland's energy system, representing 2.7% of total energy supply (TES) and 2.9% of electricity generation in 2021. White peat is used in greenhouses and livestock farming.
Energy use In 2021 an estimated 2 million tonnes of peat was burnt in Finland. Finland is set to receive over €465 million from the EU's Just Transition Fund (JTF), representing about 24% of its Cohesion Policy allocation for 2021-2027. This funding is intended to support Finland's objective of attaining climate neutrality by 2035 in a socially equitable manner. The JTF will focus its investments on 14 regions affected by the transition away from peat, aiming to halve peat-based energy consumption by 2030. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the National Emergency Supply Agency established a contingency stockpile for peat, totaling approximately 20% of the peat consumption recorded in 2021.
According to the national energy statistics the energy use of peat grew in Finland in the 1980s: 1975: 0.5 TWh and 1980 4,7 TWh. The share of peat energy was 19 TWh in 2005 and in the peak year 2007 28.4 TWh. In 2006 the peat energy provided 25.3 TWh which gave 6.2 TWh electricity, 6.1 TWh warming and 4.7 TWh industry heat.
Environment
Finland's environmental administration has a new project studying water pollution from the peat collection areas. Local people have complained of water pollution. The new studies show 20-fold differences between samples. The EIA counts only the largest particles that are only about 10% of total. The heavy rain showers have been previously ignored. According to evaluations one rain shower could bring as much particles as the rest of the summer.
Environmental accident
The accidental large water emission from peat collection area in 1981 in Lestijärvi was an environmental wakeup.
Neova
VTT case 2010 VTT used to be a state financed research organization but today it gets a third of its funds from the state and two thirds from the companies. This may create conflicts of interest or the appearance thereof.
VTT principles for communication In the summer 2010, one researcher specialist from VTT expressed his/her critics about the reliability of the electricity market report for the parliament. VTT gave him/her a warning since according to VTT the statement was given in the name of VTT and she/he was not qualified for it. This special researcher claims that he acted privately and revealed in general the contradictions of the electricity market report.
VTT: Energy tax and scientific freedom The Finnish government ordered an energy evaluation report from VTT for energy tax reform which was published in 2010. VTT report studies the carbon tax for oil, gas, coal and peat. VTT did not give tax recommendations for peat based on its actual carbon load. The responsible director was Satu Helynen. The close relationships of Ms. Helynen and the peat industry associations was revealed. Satu Helynen denied a VTT scientist to write about peat in autumn 2010. According to the scientist the leaders of VTT tried to prevent them to express in public dissentient opinions about the peat energy tax. Helynen considered the writing onesided and demanded another perspective. The issue came public in August 2010 in a STT (Finnish News Service) interview, when a group of VTT scientists claimed anonyme VTT of pressure.
Satu Helynen and peat industry Satu Helynen was a member of Enas board during 2005-2009: a company owned by VTT and two peat energy companies: Vapo and Jyväskylän Energia. Satu Helynen was the chairman of Finbio ry Association until 2009. Finbio was claimed to cooperate with the “Association of Finnish Peat Industries“ and “Peat Producers Association” lobbying members of parliament for peat. Satu Helynen was a member of the executive board of the International Peat Society (IPS) 2008–2012. IPS is a global non-profit organisation for all interests related to peat and peatlands, having scientific and corporate members in 42 countries worldwide and promoting Wise Use of peatlands. The executive board of the IPS consists of both university and company directors and is elected by an annual assembly of national member associations. In Finland, Suoseura acts as national committee of IPS. In addition to approximately 400 individual members from universities and other organisation; their corporate members are VTT, Vapo, Turveruukki and the Bioenergy Association of Finland. VTT does not publish or control any economic or board membership commitments of its scientists as at least the members of board of public companies have to do. In medicine publications and conferences the statements of commitments of scientists are normal. Mr. Kari Larjava, e.g. VTT expert in biogas and head of Ms. Helynen, did not know IPS but considered its membership of no relevant problem in regard to commitments.
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