Public Support in the Energy Transition in the Nordics
December 9, 2025
Henna Longi
JustH2Transit participated in the two-day Public Support in the Energy Transition conference (4-5.12.2025) organized by Nordic Energy Research. The event brought together Nordic experts to discuss the energy transition under the premise that “without the trust and engagement of citizens, our chances of reaching national climate targets and renewable energy goals in the Nordic region is at risk.”
On the first day, the focus was on Finland and Norway through various presentations and examples, particularly concerning the development of electricity markets and citizens’ attitudes toward the energy transition. Speakers included Mikko Heikkilä, Anni Mikkonen, Dag Inge Fjeld, and Øistein Schmidt Galaaen.​​​​​
The panel discussion explored the outlook for the energy transition in Finland and Norway and whether differences and similarities could be observed between the two countries. One major difference highlighted was that in Finland, municipalities have significant power in planning and resource allocation, whereas in Norway, centralization has also led to conflicts in wind power development. The discussion also emphasized how the rise of defense and security narratives across the Nordic region has influenced public opinion. Furthermore, a comprehensive dialogue on the shared energy future of the Nordic countries was considered important—for example, in terms of how interconnectors are developed.
At the end of the discussion, key factors to pay attention to were summarized:
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The power of good examples: helping to demonstrate benefits
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Distribution of benefits
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Local use, not just for export
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Shifting discourse from general techno-economic discussions to the citizen level
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The importance of local dialogue
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On the second day, presentations came from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Daniel Urey focused on the sense of locality in the energy transition. He presented case studies on how both potential energy investment sites and places meaningful to citizens were mapped at the regional level. Marte Skogen discussed how the debate around wind power in Norway has evolved over time and how Norwegian discourse compares to other countries. In Norway, opposition to wind power construction has grown significantly in the past couple of years, with discussions emphasizing state support schemes, high electricity prices, and questions about the profitability of offshore wind. Although public support for energy projects is strong in Denmark, Christine Lunde Rasmussen stated that “it’s not just giving them value of the project but making them part of the project”.
Later on, the second day, the focus shifted to different methods for involving the stakeholders, what information different methods produce, and how various groups can be reached through different approaches. The JustH2Transit and SpeedLocal projects showed examples from Finland and Sweden. Additionally, a workshop organized by these projects delved deeper into how research methods could be developed in the future.
Genuine and Open Dialogue Is Key at the Local Level
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At the end of the conference, the fourth Hydrogen Impact Forum (H2IF) of the JustH2Transit project was held in Finland. In this forum, stakeholders representing different perspectives were engaged in dialogue about the local impacts of hydrogen projects. Participants included representatives of hydrogen project development, city decision-makers, municipal economic and environmental development, nature conservation, civil society, and regional planning.
The discussion began with an example from Ren-Gas. Their combined P2X gas fuel and district heating plant, located in the Kymijärvi power plant area, has successfully obtained permits and progressed smoothly from the participants’ perspective. The project aligned well with the city’s strategy and was located at existing industrial area and infrastructure. It was praised for extensive interaction and the presence of a stakeholder contact person on the city’s side. No complaints were filed during the process.
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The Ren-Gas example sparked a broader discussion on the critical role of location in new energy investments. While placement of the investments to the established industrial sites is generally more acceptable to communities, this cannot be taken for granted. Many older industrial areas are too small for modern needs, creating a demand for new, well-planned sites. Participants emphasized the importance of regional planning and cross-sector collaboration in identifying suitable locations.
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The conversation expanded to the state of energy investments in Finland. While there is strong willingness and readiness to build, uncertainty in demand and end-product markets has created a temporary standstill. Similar to other Nordic countries, the debate also touched on export strategies—should Finland remain primarily a producer for Central Europe, or develop capabilities to manufacture and utilize end products locally?
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Toward the end of the discussion, participants reflected on how public perception and emotional factors influence how we are valuing different investments. For example, public attitudes toward chocolate maker Fazer’s investment are generally more positive compared to data center investments. Likewise, the positive attitude towards hydrogen has likely contributed to the smooth progress of Ren-Gas’s project.
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In summary, the region demonstrates a strong spirit of collaboration. There is a genuine desire to gather feedback from citizens and stakeholders, and authorities are committed to responding to all statements. This open and transparent approach is essential for building trust and ensuring the success of future energy projects.
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Moving Forward Together
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Overall, the conference successfully sparked dialogue on this important topic and helped us all realize that despite differences, experiences across countries are quite similar. JustH2Transit wants to thank for this excellent effort to foster Nordic cooperation!
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The conference was very well organized, and Nordic Energy Research will publish a summary of all presentations, which we eagerly await.