Fortum and the City of Espoo continue partnership in developing carbon-neutral district heating

ESPOO, 03-Apr-2017 — /EuropaWire/ — Mayor of Espoo Jukka Mäkelä and Fortum President and CEO Pekka Lundmark signed an agreement on 28 March 2017 to continue the implementation of shared energy targets and the development of city solutions in Espoo.

“EU studies indicate that Espoo is Europe’s most sustainable city. I think it’s a good start, and we intend to remain so also in the future. Sustainable city solutions require a working collaborative relationship between companies, universities, research, the city, and residents. Espoo wants to participate in that collaboration as an actor and a platform,” notes Espoo Mayor Jukka Mäkelä. “Through the collaboration with Fortum, we are pursuing a major step forward on the road towards a carbon-free Espoo.”

Fortum and the City of Espoo signed a letter of intent in summer 2016 on the development of economically and ecologically sustainable city solutions. The work resulted in, e.g., three scenarios for carbon-neutral district heating for Espoo by 2030. The scenarios are a natural continuation to the development in which the share of waste heat utilisation and the use of renewable fuels in district heat production have increased already to almost one-third during the past two years. The next step is to create a clear development path containing specific actions and investments to make district heating carbon-neutral.

“We must engage in close collaboration in developing carbon-neutral district heating – at the same time, we are supporting Espoo in the achievement of its goal to be a carbon-neutral city by 2050. The collaboration and the city solutions to be implemented will also improve the daily lives and comfort of city residents and the success of the city,” notes Fortum’s President and CEO Pekka Lundmark.

Included in the agreement signed now is collaboration in bringing efficient energy products and services to the markets, promoting electric transport, and creating circular economy solutions. In addition to the city, the collaboration parties also include city residents, experts from different sectors, and nongovernmental organisations.

Fortum has extensive expertise in implementing energy use, circular economy and various city solutions. Fortum will utilise the solutions developed in Espoo in solving energy and circular economy challenges of cities of various sizes around the world.

SOURCE: Fortum Corporation

Group Communications

Further information:
Niko Wirgentius, Head of Asset Management, Fortum, +358 50 330 0043
Pasi Laitala, Director for Sustainable Development, City of Espoo, +358 43 824 5427

Fortum
Fortum is a leading clean-energy company that provides its customers with electricity, heating and cooling as well as smart solutions to improve resource efficiency. We want to engage our customers and society to join the change for a cleaner world. We employ some 8,000 professionals in the Nordic and Baltic countries, Russia, Poland and India, and 62% of our electricity generation is CO2 free. In 2016, our sales were EUR 3.6 billion. Fortum’s share is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. www.fortum.com