Energy Efficiency Agreements

Voluntary energy efficiency agreement schemes have been set up for various sectors in accordance with Finland’s national climate and energy strategy, aiming to help Finland meet its international commitments to mitigate global climate change by enhancing energy efficiency.

These schemes are also intended to help Finland to comply with the EU energy services directive, which sets Finland an indicative target to strive over the period 2008-2016 to achieve annual energy savings by 2016 amounting to 9 % of average annual energy consumption during the period 2001-2005, equivalent to annual energy savings of 17.8 TWh.

As a result of negotiations with the EU on the implementation of this directive, Finland has been allowed to work towards the required energy savings through these voluntary agreements instead of obligatory legislative controls.

To address sectors where it is not possible to achieve the goals set out in the directive through voluntary energy efficiency agreements, legislation is currently being prepared to cover the energy use of public associations and the energy efficiency services provided by energy companies.

Energy efficiency agreements overseen by various ministries

The Ministry of Employment and the Economy is responsible for energy efficiency agreements involving businesses and industry, as well as energy efficiency agreements and energy programmes in the municipal sector.

Energy efficiency agreements in the industrial and commercial sector cover:

• energy-intensive activities (including energy production and large-scale industrial production)  
• medium-sized energy users in industry and the service sector (presently including the foodstuffs, chemical, plastics, technology, wood refining and motor vehicle industries; commerce; and tourism and catering services)
• energy services (including the transmission and distribution of energy, and district heating and cooling systems)

The HÖYLÄ III energy efficiency agreement covering the distribution of heating and transport fuels involves both the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, and the Ministry of the Environment.

Energy efficiency agreements related to logistics, goods transportation and public transport are negotiated with the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

A new energy programme for Finland’s agricultural sector (2010-2016) overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry get started in January 2010.