Ilmatar achieved a positive climate impact in terms of carbon dioxide emissions in 2023. This means that climate benefits of our operations (carbon handprint) exceeded the carbon emissions generated by our operations (carbon footprint).
Wind and solar energy are the most cost-effective ways to produce electricity. Once the production of renewable energy begins, the carbon dioxide emissions caused by construction are quickly offset. Depending on the technology and efficiency, this typically takes a few months.
– The more we build renewable energy production, the faster we enable a positive climate impact for more businesses and industrial sectors. We have already achieved a positive climate impact with our own operations and projects, but our goals are ambitious because we want to be a leader in sustainability across the entire value chain, says Cecilia Hertzberg, ESG Manager at Ilmatar.
Ilmatar has measured its carbon footprint since 2021. The calculations are performed by a third party according to the international Greenhouse Gas protocol. In 2023, Ilmatar’s direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions, i.e., Scope 1, 2, and 3, were 84,300 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents, of which 99.5% were related to the construction of new power plants. Our direct carbon dioxide emissions were only 420 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents, representing 0.5% of the total emissions. Direct emissions increased slightly from the previous year due to the growth of the company and number of employees.
Renewable energy replaces fossil fuels, which in turn reduces the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions from the Nordic energy grid. In 2023, our operations’ positive impact was 163,900 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents, equivalent to the emissions of over 17,000 Finns.
– I am proud that we achieved a positive climate impact in 2023, but our work does not stop there. We are constantly looking for ways to reduce carbon emissions from construction and procurement. I believe we will make progress in 2024, says Vilma Wiitakorpi Björkman, Vice President, Communications, Marketing, and Sustainability, Ilmatar.
In our sustainability report for 2023, you can read more about why emissions caused by wind and solar energy occur and what positive climate impact wind and solar parks have once the production of renewable energy has started. In our sustainability report, we report annually on our progress in sustainability work and highlight our sustainability work goals, where we measure our progress. You can find our sustainability report here.