Sampo Soimakallio: “The biggest question for the coming years is where to get cheap, low-emission electricity”
Leading Researcher Sampo Soimakallio specialises in energy systems and the climate impacts of wood use. He sees the hydrogen economy, created with cheap and clean electricity, as a prerequisite for phasing out fossil energy.
Sampo Soimakallio, leading researcher and development manager at the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), started his research career in 2000. In recent years, his research has focused on the climate impacts of energy systems and biomass use. In practice, this means that he assesses the benefits and drawbacks of wood use from a climate change perspective, for example.
Soimakallio sees the Finnish Climate Change Panel as a kind of interpreter working between researchers and decision-makers.
“The purpose of research is usually not to provide information directly for the needs of decision-makers. The Finnish Climate Change Panel is rectifying this situation by summarising the research evidence and formulating the results and the dimensions appropriately for decision-makers. This is an important role,” says Soimakallio.
Soimakallio brings to the Panel expertise in forest use and carbon sinks, as well as climate change mitigation scenarios and greenhouse gas calculations.
The collapse of carbon sinks in Finnish forests is a major issue
Soimakallio is keen to talk about the European Union’s climate targets.
He is currently leading one of Finland’s REPowerEU projects to support Finland’s transition to a clean energy system in a sustainable and fair way.
Soimakallio is interested in ways in which Finland can meet the EU’s 2030 climate commitments, especially as Finland’s calculations have had to be changed by an unprecedented amount.
“The collapse of carbon sinks in Finland’s forests is a very big deal. It also serves as a good example of what happens when things do not go as planned.”
The 2040 EU targets are also being padded out with more detail.
“They will provide the framework and direction for the whole of the EU’s climate policy in the very near future. It will be interesting to see what kinds of obligations will be passed on to the member states.”
Towards a hydrogen economy powered by cheap electricity
As an energy expert, Soimakallio is pleased that solar and wind power production volumes have increased at a level that has surpassed expectations in recent years.
Soimakallio also likes the way some in the business world have not shied away from climate issues.
“In responsible companies, climate-related actions are no longer just a separate issue to be recorded in the annual report. On the contrary, they have become part of everyday operations. Strategies are also created on the basis of what will be sustainable in the future.”
The biggest question for the coming years is where to source sufficiently cheap and clean electricity,” says Soimakallio.
Cheap electricity will enable a new generation of electrofuels to be used in heavy transport, aviation, industry and other areas where direct electricity cannot be used.
“Once low-carbon electricity becomes affordable, everything else will then start to move faster.”
Climate actions must be fair
As climate actions progress in the coming years and decades, Soimakallio hopes that they will be implemented as fairly as possible.
He points out that achieving climate targets requires not just technological innovation and business activities, but also public policy instruments, such as taxation and subsidies. This highlights the possibility of some segments of the population not perceiving climate action to be fair.
“This has to do with our entire taxation system and economy – everything affects everything. We need to calculate exactly how the different measures will affect each population group and whether there is any way to compensate for the negative effects.”
“Climate action should not have disproportionate consequences for different groups.”
Outside of work, Soimakallio is a keen tennis and padel player.
“I never leave the tennis court glad that the session is over – I never tire of it. I have been playing since I was eight years old.”
Soimakallio also enjoys getting out in nature, especially in summer.
“My all-time favourite thing is to go to Lapland and get out into the fells.”