Three of the city's four climate measures were implemented last year

of the city of Imatra in the climate meter there were a total of 2021 measures in 39. 30 of them were completed on schedule.

2022 measures have been set for 51.

—With the increase in the number of measures, the effectiveness of climate work in the city increases. This is a good start. Now we have an even more comprehensive toolkit for reducing emissions, the climate coordinator Eetu Ahlberg says.

The city's goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. A lot of work has been done to achieve the goal.

Imatra's climate emissions have decreased steadily since 2010. Today, emissions are 51 percent less than in the reference year 2007.

One of the most significant factors has been Imatran Lämpö Oy's transition from natural gas to bioenergy in district heat production in 2015.

Imatra Lämmö's climate goals were achieved

Imatra Lämpö had set seven separate climate goals for 2021, which have progressed as planned.

In 2021, the share of gas in Imatra Lämmö's district heat production was 2,7% of energy. The amount has decreased dramatically, because before the implementation of the bio-heating center and transfer project, district heating was produced entirely with natural gas. The gas used last year was entirely biogas.

The company produces the majority of district heating using forest industry by-products (47,8%) and forest fuels (49,5%).

—We have succeeded in our goals in reducing emissions and at the same time we have been able to promote the circular economy of South Karelia, CEO of Imatra Lämmö Vesa-Pekka Vainikka rejoices.

The specific emissions of carbon dioxide calculated from district heating energy sources were already zero for the second year in a row.

—The biggest importance here has been the aforementioned use of forest management and forest industry by-products. The last emission percentages were tweaked and district heating became completely fossil-free with biogas, by acquiring a number of biogas certificates corresponding to the use of gas, Vainikka says.

During the year, 13 new properties joined Kaukolämpö, ​​including large buildings. The projects on the utilization of industrial waste heat are also progressing as planned.

Imatran Lämpö also develops the efficiency of its own production and distribution.

The flue gas scrubber of the Rajapatsa bioheat center, put into operation at the beginning of 2021, will increase the efficiency of the bioboiler and save fuel. Lowering the flow temperature of the Virasoja thermal center was possible by increasing the use of the intermediate pumping station built in 2020 on the Ukonniemi line.

—These and the renovations of the district heating network reduce network losses and help keep the price of district heating competitive, which is important to our customers. The customer price of Imatra Lämmö's district heating has been able to remain unchanged since 2016, despite the rise in fuel prices, Vainikka says.

The climate meter can be found on the Imatra website

The climate measures of Imatra Lämmö and the entire city group can be found in the Climate Meter.

The climate meter can be found on the city of Imatra's website at imatra.fi/ilmastomittari.

In the measure, the measures are divided into nine themes.

—Each procedure has its own box on the pages. By clicking on it, you can see, for example, the schedule of the procedure, the goals and the current situation, Ahlberg advises.

The purpose of the climate meter is to communicate to everyone about the city's climate work. At the same time, the purpose is to inspire residents in their own everyday climate actions: everyone's choices matter.

For more information:
About the climate meter and the city's climate measures: climate coordinator Eetu Ahlberg, eetu.ahlbergimatra.fi (eetu[dot]ahlberg[at]imatra[dot]fi), TWO TWO WHEN TWO
Imatran Lämmö's climate action: CEO Vesa-Pekka Vainikka, vesa-pekka.vainikkaimatra.fi (vesa-pekka[dot]vainika[at]imatra[dot]fi), TWO TWO WHEN TWO