MASTERCLASS 4: PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Kainuu is the most northern project partner of the Interreg Europe project ZCI (Zero Carbon Infrastructure). Although the local hosts had ordered nice spring weather to entertain their guests, some of the participants arriving for the two-day visit might still have been surprised to see some last piles of snow and the trees with no leaves. The two meeting days, in the middle of May, were the first warmer spring days in Kajaani this year, after a long winter with loads of snow.
It’s safe to say that the conditions regarding electric mobility in Kainuu are quite different compared to other ZCI partner regions. The climate is harsher, the region is sparsely populated and the distances to drive are longer. This sets some challenges for increasing electric mobility, although the share of EVs has started to significantly increase during the last years. On the other hand, there is space to build charging stations, and the grid in Finland is strong. An interesting fact regarding Kainuu is that there is a mine called Terrafame, producing battery chemicals in the region. So regardless of the amount of EVs in Kainuu, electric mobility affects the regional economy in a positive way.
Different Factors of Traffic Emissions
The masterclass programme included a variety of topics along the life cycle of electric vehicles, all the way from producing vehicles and battery chemicals, to producing and storing green energy and recycling vehicles and batteries. Topics related to raising public awareness and cooperation with housing associations were discussed.
Below you’ll find the presentations held on Tuesday the 14th of May:
Welcome Words by Jouni Ponnikas, Regional Council of Kainuu.
Hard Facts on the life cycle of EVs by Johanna Alakerttula, Macon Ltd.
Hard facts on battery chemical production by Katariina Koikkalainen, Terrafame Ltd.
Hard facts on storing renewable energy by Katja Koponen, Ilmatar Energy Ltd.
How to face the grid capacity challenges by Luc Decoster, Fluvius.
EV charging in housing companies and private households by Ville Keränen, Granlund Ltd.
Guided EV Charging Tour and Bus Trip to Biogas Terminal
After the official learning and meeting sessions on Tuesday, the international group headed out for a walking tour in the surroundings. Ville Keränen, a local expert who plans EV charging solutions for work, lead the group during their visit to different kinds of sites and to explore the various kinds of solutions found in the neighborhoods. The international guests were intrigued by the different conditions of Northern Finland lives compared to their own regions, including of course the climate conditions, but also things related to the space available, the electricity grid, decision-making of housing companies etc.
On the second day, the guests were taken for a visit to Vieremä, where the municipality is building a strong biogas culture and ecosystem in their area. The municipality is committed to changing the equipment to using biogas and to taking this into account also in their procurement contracts. They have built biogas terminal, promising to purchase all biogas produced at the farms in the area. They are also setting up a hybrid energy park, which consists of a solar power system and of small vertical wind turbines. In the first phase of the project, a part of the solar power system has already been implemented. The second phase will include implementing small vertical wind turbines and the second part of the solar electricity system. The project has novelty value, especially regarding vertical wind turbines.