Nations are battling against climate change and are urged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. EU is struggling to reach even 2030 climate targets based on EC's recent assessment. More GHG reductions are needed together with carbon dioxide removals to reach climate neutral Europe by 2050, says our most recent publication (Markkanen et al 2024).

I currently pursue a PhD in Aalto University in the department of Engineering (Energy Technology). In my research, I study how energy systems need to change in Europe and in Finland to reach the climate targets while promoting sustainability regarding e.g. in the use of bioenergy. Currently, I am modelling cost-efficient negative emission pathways for Finland as a part of the REPower-CEST EU-project. Later on, I will model decarbonisation pathways for the entire Europe with a special focus on how to tackle the residual emissions from hard-to-abate sectors like transport or industry.

My methods include energy system modelling using PET-VTT (Pan-European TIMES-VTT, based on JRC-EU-TIMES-model) together with data analysis performed using python and R programming to perfect the scenario assessments and get the most out the data we have. In the project work, we actively develop PET-VTT to keep it up-to-date, as more assessments of the development of energy systems especially regarding production electrofuels (P2X) and related carbon capture and utilisation are needed in Europe.