SuomiAreena 2025
June 27, 2025
Taika Tikkanen
SuomiAreena 2025 once again brought together decision-makers, experts, companies, and citizens to discuss current social issues. JustH2Transit participated by raising questions about the fairness of the hydrogen transition.
Building consensus with conflicting interests is essential to ensure that the green transition is implemented fairly
The JUST ENERGY research program, which includes our JustH2Transit project, organized a discussion at SuomiAreena on Tuesday, June 24. The discussion focused on the fairness of the energy transition and considered how fairness and reasonableness extend from global issues to the everyday lives of individual citizens. The discussion was summarized by saying that the benefits and disadvantages must be distributed evenly across regions, responsibility must not be left to citizens, and information sharing plays a key role if and when the energy transition is to be achieved fairly. You can read more about the panel discussion in our blog post (link) and watch the recording of the discussion here (link).
The current challenges of the hydrogen economy were also addressed from the perspective of social acceptance and fairness by our researcher Essi Laitinen (VTT/UEF) and our Interactions Officer Minna Näsman (Akordi) on June 25 at the Hydrogen Arena. In their presentation, they responded to thought-provoking questions from the field: Will Finland become the Congo of the hydrogen economy? Can a half planner promote seven green transition projects at the same time? Can doubling the willow tilt population be set as a planning principle for the hydrogen project? Is it Ren-Gas's problem if the power line running through Kolpanlahti needs to be reinforced? Does the nurse on the municipal council know what T-kem means?
The discussion highlighted that the hydrogen transition is above all a social issue that requires local acceptance and a multi-perspective approach to solving real challenges. The hydrogen transition will progress where the interests of different parties can be reconciled.
The hydrogen economy from many perspectives
On Wednesday, June 25, the Hydrogen Arena hosted a full day of presentations on different perspectives on the hydrogen transition. Topics included the importance of political decision-making, the implementation of investments, the need for hydrogen transmission network, and the creation of value chains, expertise, and cooperation.
The role of regulation sparked lively debate. Many parties called for long-term, consistent and predictable regulation and political decision-making. There were fears that bureaucracy would take up too many resources, but the importance of safety and trust was also highlighted. Good regulation does not hinder development but enables it, for example by stimulating demand.
Several participants, including Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala, expressed the view that ambitious climate targets and competitiveness are not mutually exclusive but go hand in hand. Finland has the opportunity to profile itself as a pioneer in the hydrogen economy and clean technology, which could attract international investment. However, this requires ambitious targets and measures to achieve them. The steel industry was highlighted as an example of a sector where a transition to hydrogen would enable Finland to achieve its climate targets and create national value chains.
In many discussions, issues of security and security of supply were highlighted as important factors in the hydrogen transition. The transition away from fossil fuels was seen as critical not only for climate goals but also from a geopolitical perspective. Breaking away from dependence on Russia and strengthening security of supply are creating pressure on domestic energy production.
Speakers also repeatedly mentioned the need to build value chains in Finland – not just to produce hydrogen for export, but also to refine it into high value-added products. One factor in this is the hydrogen transmission network and it’s the necessity, costs, and construction schedule were discussed on several occasions. In addition, hydrogen valleys were seen as important platforms for cooperation and pilot environments. The importance of Nordic cooperation and the active role of local authorities and municipalities was also emphasized. It was repeatedly pointed out that cooperation is Finland's superpower.
Building a hydrogen economy requires expertise, research and development. Concerns were raised about the declining number of specialists and the shortage of skilled workers, which could slow down the transition. For example, cooperation between companies and Aalto University was highlighted as a way of developing expertise.
All aspects of the hydrogen economy, such as project development, expertise, and infrastructure, should be developed simultaneously, requiring extensive investment in different areas. In order to ensure sufficient investment, both private and public funding is needed. The need for international capital was emphasized in many of the speeches. Private investment requires a credible and stable environment with a clear direction.
The overarching message of the event was clear: the paths to the future are being built now, and the hydrogen transition requires broad cooperation between governments, businesses, investors, municipalities, research institutions, and citizens. Investments, expertise, and legislation must move at the same pace, and political decision-making must be predictable and long-term.
Finland can be a pioneer in a just transition to hydrogen if we work strategically to achieve it. As was stated: “Let's not take a moped onto the motorway – the means must match the goals.”
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​Check out the video to see the atmosphere of the day: (video)
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