Meeting of Nordic energy industry leaders: Boosting Nordic cooperation

Together with his Nordic colleagues, Fingrid's President and CEO Jukka Ruusunen proposes a better joint-Nordic commitment to decision making in the energy industry. The change in the energy system demands an extensive enhancement of cooperation. The aim is to establish an interest group forum alongside the Nordic Council of Energy Ministers.

Nordic main grid owners, energy authorities and major electricity producers held a joint meeting on 1 December 2015 in Norway. Finnish participants were Fingrid, the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, and Fortum.

The Nordic electricity market and system are facing significant changes. The change in the energy system and the transfer to a low-carbon electricity system require regional solutions and closer regional cooperation. An essential aim of the meeting organised last week was to form a common idea of challenges and development possibilities, as well as to discuss the direction the Nordic system will take entering the 2030s.

Main grid owners propose establishing a joint-Nordic 'Advisory board' interest group forum alongside the Nordic Council of Energy Ministers as a means for closer cooperation. The proposed interest group forum would resemble the Florence Forum, which coordinates electricity market development in the EU. Its task would be to coordinate Nordic cooperation and to promote the transfer to a low-carbon energy system on a regional level.

Fingrid's President & CEO Jukka Ruusunen considers the proposed forum an important step forward. He also emphasises the strengthening of national political commitment to regional objectives. For example, the Nordic countries currently lack functional structures for agreeing on regional objectives and necessary measures.

This proposal is in line with the conclusions of the Nordic Council of Energy Ministers that convened in November; Minister of Economic Affairs Olli Rehn stated that Nordic cooperation in the electricity market should be strengthened to fully utilise the rapid growth of renewable energy. According to Rehn, this requires the reinforcement of transmission connections especially between Finland and Sweden.

Further information
Jukka Ruusunen, President & CEO, tel. +358 30 395 5140 or +358 40 593 8428
Juha Hiekkala, Manager, Electricity Market Development, tel. +358 30 395 5108 or +358 405539898