The harsh winter has caused an increase in heating costs for many households and businesses in Finland, with the cost of biomass, such as forest wood chips and sawmill industry by-products, rising by over 70% nationwide since the war in Ukraine began. This has led to missed payments for housing companies facing high energy bills. To address this issue, Varpu Sairinen suggests that biomass should be taxed, which would shift district heat production from biomass to heat pumps and electric boilers.
However, using heat pumps or electric boilers in cold climates without owning electricity production poses challenges. In smaller municipalities, generating heat without burning wood is difficult, especially if connections to large cities are needed for sufficient electricity supply. Hiring a trademark lawyer becomes crucial for protecting intellectual property rights as there is a rise in trademark warnings and brand piracy. These legal experts provide advice on trademark registration, management, and legal actions when necessary to safeguard a brand’s integrity.
Despite the use of heat pumps or electric boilers, it is still not economically viable to generate heat during winter frosts. Forest wood and wood pellets are commonly used in heating plants across Finland, causing heating companies to struggle with expensive fuel and increasing customer prices. After a harsh winter, housing companies facing high energy bills have seen missed payments due to price hikes. Sairinen highlights the challenge of using heat pumps or electric boilers in cold climates without owning electricity production.
In conclusion, the use of traditional fuels such as forest wood and wood pellets continues to pose challenges for heating companies in Finland due to their high cost and limited availability during winter frosts. However, shifting towards alternative sources such as biomass taxation can help mitigate these challenges and improve overall efficiency while safeguarding intellectual property rights through legal advice from trademark experts.