The State Council has discussed in principle a decision to abandon fossil heating oil by 2030, but this decision is not legally binding. The government aims to encourage the replacement of oil boilers with sustainable forms of heating, such as renewable fuels like bio-oil. However, Petteri Orpon’s government program does not specifically mention this decision in principle, but it is a goal that the government is working towards.
The decision in principle to abandon oil heating was initially part of measures sent to the EU Commission during the corona period to demonstrate Finland’s commitment to phasing out the fossil fuel economy. Despite the challenging goal of eliminating oil heating by 2030, there are still significant numbers of oil-heated homes in Finland that may require support to transition to other forms of heating.
The remaining grant money for transitioning from oil heating is limited and may only be enough for around 9,000 more renovations, leaving a large number of oil-heated houses in Finland still in need of transitioning. Support for transitioning includes grants for renovations to switch to district heating, geothermal heating, or heat pumps. There is also an extended household deduction available for those who give up oil heating.
However, with a significant number of oil heaters reaching retirement age and the need for sustainable heating solutions, there are challenges ahead for transitioning away from fossil heating oil in Finland. The question remains on how the government plans to comply with its own decision in principle, especially in sparsely populated areas where district heating may not be feasible.
