Plugged In: the energy news podcast SUMMER SPECIAL Episode 3: CEO of Fingrid
Jul 17, 2025
Asta Sihvonen-Punkka, CEO of Fingrid and leader in Finland’s energy transition, discusses pressing challenges in balancing the nation's power market. She highlights the oversupply of renewable energy in the Nordics and the vital role of nuclear energy for reliability—especially during harsh winters. The conversation also delves into the importance of flexible models to meet the rising demand for data centers, as well as innovative solutions for integrating wind energy into the grid, shaping Finland's sustainable energy future.
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Rapid Shift To Clean, Self-Sufficient Power
- Finland's generation mix shifted rapidly since the late 1990s toward renewables and nuclear, greatly cutting CO2 emissions.
- The country became nearly energy self-sufficient after Russian imports stopped and a large nuclear unit came online.
TSO Perspective Focuses On Balancing And Buildout
- As Fingrid CEO Asta Sihvonen-Punkka explains, a TSO's view prioritizes system development and balancing over regulatory detail.
- The main challenge is upgrading transmission while coping with rapidly changing generation and consumption patterns.
Embed Risk Management To Prevent Blackouts
- Plan systematically for contingencies and embed risk management into operations to avoid blackouts.
- Mitigate identified risks proactively to limit impacts if incidents start to occur.