By 2050 it is possible for the whole of Finland not to need fossil fuels and be totally reliant of renewable energy, a group of experts have said.

Researchers have claimed that by vastly increasing its renewable energy capacity, particularly relying on solar and wind power, the country can make itself run on a fully renewable system.

The group from Lappeenranta University of Technology say that the target is not only achievable from a technological capacity but it would also be economically possible for the country to achieve.

“The main message is the option of a fully renewable energy system must be seen as a valid option for the future, rather than a radical alternative,” said Christian Breyer from LUT.

“Finland certainly has an abundance of renewable resources, such as solar, wind, bioenergy and already exploited hydropower, which can be sustainably utilised.”

The set-up that the researchers envisioned would include an installed solar capacity of u to 35 gigawatts, 44 gigawatts of wind power.

Creating this foundation could, in theory, produce 166 TWh of electricity annually – an amount that’s twice the level of electricity which is currently used.

The researchers said excess electricity could then be used to create synthetic fuels that can be used when they are needed.

In total it would cost the country €25bn ($27bn) each year to fund this level of renewable – whereas working within the countries current state would leave the country paying €26bn per year.

The set-up would see industries, such as those for heating and transport, being powered by electricity created by renewable rather than fossil fuels.

While the research proves that the system may be possible to create it’s certain that there will be political and infrastructural hurdles to achieve the transformation.

Despite the challenges that may lie ahead the country is already one of the EU’s biggest users of renewable energy. Recent figures showed that 34.4 percent of Finnish energy was coming from renewable sources, with an overall aim for the country to reach 38% in the coming years.

“Energy technologies will be a big part of these solutions, but let’s not underestimate the impact that we can have on our own future.

“We have the opportunity to be more flexible energy consumers, and many individuals will become more active energy producers at the same time,” said the university’s Michael Child.