Public support in the energy transition

04.12.25 | Event
Photographer
Khan/ AdobeStock
Join Nordic Energy Research for a conference on the future of the energy transition!

Information

Dates
04 - 05.12.2025
Time
12:30 PM - 02:00 PM
Location

Sibeliushuset, Ankkurikatu 7
15140 Lahti, Finland
Finland

Type
Conference

Across the Nordic region, a clear challenge is emerging: more and more energy transition projects are being delayed, halted, or abandoned. Without the trust and engagement of citizens, our chances of reaching national climate targets and renewable energy goals in the Nordic and Baltic regions are at risk. We believe this trend can be reversed – and together, we can find out how.

For two days, we will gather policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and civil society for an open and solution-focused dialogue on one of the defining issues of our time: How do we ensure affordable, secure, and clean energy in an era of rapid change and geopolitical uncertainty?

Programme

All times are given in local time (CET+1).


Day 1

  • Thursday, 4 December

  • Room: Puusepän Verstas
  • 13:00: Registration and refreshments
  • 13:45: Introduction

     Katri Makkonen, Moderator

     Klaus Skytte, CEO, Nordic Energy Research

  • 14:00: Welcoming speech

    Niko Kyynäräinen, Mayor, City of Lahti 

  • 14:15: Keynote speaker: Public support for the energy transition in a new geopolitical era​

    Mikko Heikkilä, Head of Public Affairs and Communications, Fingrid Oy

  • 14:45: Renewable energy and the future of Nordic energy security

    Anni Mikkonen, CEO, Renewables Finland

  • 15:15: Coffee break
  • 15:45: Climate skepticism and social opposition to the green transition

    Dag Inge Fjeld, Assistant Professor, Kristiania University College​

  • 16:10: Public trust in the Nordic electricity market

    Jan Magne Bae, Industry Director, Renewables Norway

  • 16:35: Panel discussion

    Mikko Heikkilä, Head of Public Affairs and Communications, Fingrid Oy 

    Anni Mikkonen, CEO, Renewables Finland

    Dag Inge Fjeld, Assistant Professor, Kristiania University College​

    Jan Magne Bae, Industry Director, Renewables Norway

  • 17:10: Summary and wrap-up
  • 17:15: End of conference day 1
  • 19:00: Optional conference dinner

Malskin Bistro

Address: Päijänteenkatu 9

Day 2

Friday, 5 December​

Room: Kuusi

  • 08:30: Coffee and light breakfast
  • 09:00: Welcome and introduction
  • 09:10: Keynote: Not here! On energy transition, landscapes and the sense of locality​

    Daniel Urey, Co-founder and Head, LABLAB

  • 09:40: The case of Norwegian windpower

    Marte Skogen, PhD candidate, University of Bergen

  • 10:10: Coffee break
  • 10:40: Overview of the current state of social acceptance in Denmark

    Ask Tonsgaard Hjordt Brüel, Global head of Energy & Utility, Ramboll​ Management Consulting

  • 11:10: Panel discussion

    Daniel Urey, Co-founder and Head, LABLAB

    Marte Skogen, PhD candidate, University of Bergen

    Ask Tonsgaard Hjordt Brüel, Global head of Energy & Utility, Ramboll​ Management Consulting

  • 11:45: Lunch
  • 12:45: Citizen involvement through energy citizenship, mini publics, and beyond: Concepts, methods, and Finnish case studies

    Antti Silvast, Associate Professor, LUT University

  • 13:15: Empowering customers to be flexible

    Anders Tonhammar Lööf, Regional Director, Sympower

  • 14:00: End of conference
  • 14:15: Research roundtable and workshops: New Nordic research perspectives​

    Introduction by Minna Näsman, Mediator, Akordi

  • 14:20: Presentations: Research supporting local acceptance

    SpeedLocal: Best ways to engage stakeholder groups in production of research material
    Madelene Danielzon Larsson, Project Leader, Energiforsk

    Alexander Marek, Co-founder, LabLab

    JustH2Transit: Coordination of stakeholder interactions within a research project

  • 15:00: Parallel workshop sessions

    Discussion on methods: Can research support local acceptance? How? Participants' response to research designs presented by JustH2Transit and SpeedLocal (in English)​

    Demonstration: Hydrogen Impact Forum Lahti – a multi-perspective discussion with pre-registered local stakeholders on impacts of planned hydrogen projects around Lahti (in Finnish)​

  • 16:00: Sharing results of the workshops
  • 16:30: End of workshop sessions

Speakers

  • Klaus Skytte

    CEO, Nordic Energy Research

  • Daniel Urey

    Co-founder and Head, LABLAB

  • Mikko Heikkilä

    Head of Public Affairs and Communications, Fingrid Oy

  • Katri Makkonen

    Moderator

  • Dag Inge Fjeld

    Assistant Professor, Kristiania University College

  • Jan Magne Bae

    Director, Energy Market Division, Renewables Norway

  • Marte Skogen

    PhD candidate, University of Bergen

  • Antti Silvast

    Associate Professor, LUT University

  • Anders Tonhammar Lööf

    Regional Director, Sympower

  • Niko Kyynäräinen

    Mayor, City of Lahti

  • Anni Mikkonen

    CEO, Renewables Finland

  • Minna Näsman

    Mediator, Akordi


     

Contact: