Petition on eco-electricity - The University has half a year to arrange its electricity supplier

The University of Tampere has begun to purchase green electricity and Norppa electricity. There is time until next summer to determine what sources of energy will be providing the electricity to be purchased in years to come.

The University currently buys most of the energy consumed by its premises from the electricity supply pool which Senaatti Properties puts out to competitive bidding. Of this electricity one third has been produced by renewable energy sources, one third by nuclear power and one third by fossil fuels.

“In the future it will be possible to purchase the electricity consumed by the University from Hansel Oy the central procurement unit of the Finnish Government or from the Finnish universities' real estate company. Taina Vimpari, Head of the University Facilities Services and I have publicized our view that the Finnish universities' real estate company request for competitive bidding should include the alternative of renewable energy,” says Saana Raatikainen, the University's Environmental Coordinator.

Saana Raatikainen stresses the role of the University as a maker of choices. The University pays the electricity bills of all its premises and its choices make it possible to exert influence on what forms of energy are used to produce the electricity consumed.

The University of Tampere Foundation administrates 12 apartments around the city. For these, which are known as guest accommodation, have been run on green electricity since the beginning of April 2009. The apartments are heated by distance heating. The monthly electricity bill of one such apartment is on average 30 Euros higher than with conventional electricity.

“Moreover, for the Arvo and Virta premises we already purchase Norppa electricity generated by renewable energy sources.”

It is still unclear how much and what forms of eco-electricity the electricity suppliers can provide as demand is increasing. Electricity supplied from renewable sources by the Tampere electricity facility Tampereen Sähkölaitos amounts to 2000kw/hours per year. This refers to electricity produced with wood, biogas or hydropower.

“For example many companies are interested in electricity from renewable sources for reasons of image.”

“The solutions adopted in the future will inevitably also be affected by the additional costs of eco-electricity,” says Saana Raatikainen.

Text: Päivi Vännilä
Picture: Touko Hujanen