The Eno Energy Cooperative generates heat from energy wood for local public buildings, commercial premises and housing companies.
Eno Energy Cooperative is a community-based enterprise located in North Karelia, Finland. It was established in 1999 by 12 local forest owners. At that time, there was no proper market for energy wood and the cooperative created that for Eno district. The initiative was well-received as the municipality wanted to profile itself as a clean and environment-friendly place.
Currently the co-operative is owned by 54 local forest owners and the aim is to generate heating energy by providing wood chips for the 3 district heating plants. Members provide about 20-30% of energy wood and the rest is acquired from different suppliers nearby, e.g. from the fellings of forests owned by the city of Joensuu. The raw materials used are small diameter trees by manual felling (15%), by multi-tree processing (70%) and logging residues (15%) from clear cut areas.
Local approach is central in the operations, in terms of its members, energy wood procurement and other related services. Municipality building and private customers have saved without taxes about 2 million € during 15 years compared to light fuel oil. Besides affordable price of heat, local benefits include net carbon dioxide emissions being reduced because imported oil is replaced by renewable forest chips (5 million kg annually) and local networks are created. The actions employ between 7-10 persons/year.
The cooperative produces 15,500 MWh energy annually which corresponds to the energy consumption of c. 800 detached houses.
Resources needed
The cooperative received 20-30% investment support from regional state administrative authority: Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment. The net cost of the first own heating plant and the heating network was EUR 530,000 (excl. VAT).
Evidence of success
District heating replaces c. 2 million litres oil every year. As a result, the local economy saves around € 2,000,000 and net carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by near 5 million kg annually. Use of the plant and wood supply employs about 7-10 persons/ year.
The Eno Energy Cooperative has received two national level recognitions:
• Winner in heat entrepreneurship competition in 2014
• Emission reducer of the month in 2017 by Finnish Environment Institute
Difficulties encountered
In the beginning, there were people who doubted the sufficiency of energy wood resources. Now more households are willing to join than it is possible. In rural villages, buildings situate quite far from each other, which complicate the profitability of district heating system.
Potential for learning or transfer
The cooperative has gained wide acceptance through transparent operation and open information delivery. Due to concrete benefits to locals, inclusion of residents and openness of the operations, Eno cooperative has become a good example of successful and environment-friendly solution that supports the transition towards oil-free and low-carbon region.
The benefits:
- Most of the capital investment stays in the area
- Positive effects on forestry and landscape
- Positive effects on employment
- Local energy source brings safety and independence during possible energy crisis
- Combustion of wood reduces carbon dioxide emissions by about 5 million kg annually
- The ashes and its nutrients can be returned to the forest
- Cheaper heat for consumers compared to oil
- Wood replaces approx. 2 million litres of oil annually
- Local economy benefits about 2,000,000 e/year
Similar heating plants could provide energy to farms with a competitive price and replace fossil fuels.
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Tags: Agriculture, Bioenergy, Biofuel, Biomass, Carbon economy, Climate change, Community, Energy, Enterprise, Farming, Forest, Good practice, Energy transition, Renewable energy, Renewables, Sustainable, Sustainable development, Sustainable innovation, Sustainable management, Woodland
