Energy in Finland

In 2021, Finland's Total Energy Supply (TES) comprised bioenergy and waste (33.6%), oil (20.8%), nuclear (18.5%), coal (6.3%), natural gas (6.4%), electricity imports (4.6%), hydro (4.1%), peat (2.7%), wind (2.2%), and heat (0.6%).

[1][2] Finland's per capita energy consumption is notably high, driven by its heavy industry sector and significant heating requirements due to its cold climate.

[3][4] CO2 emissions:36.33 million tons Final consumption of energy - i.e. after losses through transformation and transmission - was 1 102 petajoules, which equals 202 gigajoules per capita in 2013.

Reasons for this include energy-intensive industry, a high standard of living, a cold climate and long distances.

Rise of energy consumption stopped in the 21st century, mainly due to changes of industry.

Energy consumption for heating has increased, as population and average size of homes has grown.

In Mäntsälä 80% of the energy is provided by excess heat recovered from the local Yandex data centre.

[12] In Helsinki, Helen Oy increases energy efficiency with several heat pumps which recover heat from return water of the district cooling and from warm waste waters before they end up in the Baltic Sea: rock caverns and cisterns under parks are used in the Katri Vala heating and cooling plant under Sörnäinen (123 MW in 2021),[13] Vuosaari (13+9.5 MW with 20% sea water)[14] and Esplanadi.

[15] In detail, Helen Oy estimates a 11.6 GWh capacity and 120 MW thermal output for its 260,000 m³ water cistern under Mustikkamaa (fully charged or discharged in 4 days at capacity), operating from 2021 to offset days of peak production/demand;[16] while the 300,000 m³ rock caverns 50 m under sea level in Kruunuvuorenranta (near Laajasalo) were designated in 2018 to store heat in summer from warm sea water and release it in winter for district heating.

The Kyoto agreement had obligation to restrict the traffic emissions in Finland between 2008 and 2012 in the year 1990 level.

According to Ministry report in 2004 the share of public transport in Finland is lower than in most other European countries.

The commencement of the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor in 2023 is expected to reduce Finland's reliance on electricity imports, aiming for the country to become a net exporter by 2030.

[19] One of the major electrical grid distribution network operators, Caruna in the south of Finland is majority-owned (80%) by Australian and Dutch holding and property companies.

The share of fossil fuels in Total Energy Supply (TES) declined from 53% to 36%, with decreases seen across all types: oil (26% to 21%), natural gas (9.6% to 6.4%), and coal (11% to 6.3%).

These changes were driven by transitions to renewable energy sources, notably solid biomass, with bioenergy and waste increasing from 23% to 34% of TES.

However, as of 2017 the agreement was not ratified in the following countries that export coal to Finland: Canada, Australia, Colombia, Kazakhstan, Indonesia and China.

[25] At least two companies in Finland reported (2010) using the UN Global Compact initiative criteria in their supplier relationships.

The LNG terminal ship Exemplar was also leased for 10 years to cover Finland's gas needs in the event of any shortages.

[29] Peat and hard coal are the most harmful energy sources for global warming in Finland.

"To encourage sustained production of peat in the face of negative incentives from the European Union's emissions trading scheme for greenhouse gases, Finland has put in place a premium tariff scheme to subsidise peat.

The premium tariff is designed to directly counter the effect of the European Union's emissions trading scheme".

By 2021, renewables accounted for 43.1% of Finland's gross final energy consumption, 39.5% of electricity generation, 52.6% of heating and cooling, and 20.5% of transport.

In 2018, water was pumped in the bedrock under Otaniemi through a bore over 6 km deep made with a down-the-hole drill[50] to reach the warmer earth crust, in a process which was allowed to produce micro-hearthquakes up to magnitude 1.9.

[51] Once an appropriate position is found to drill an exit bore towards which the water would flow underground, the plant could produce 40 MW of thermal power.

[61] In 2008, Finland's greenhouse gas emissions totalled 70.1 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2e).

[62] The carbon dioxide emissions by fossil fuels in 2008 originated from 45% oil, 39% coal and 15% natural gas.

Particulate, the size of which is from a few nanometers to visible dust particles, are considered the most important environmental factor affecting human life.

The country's energy shift is highlighted by launching Europe's first new nuclear reactor in 15 years in April 2023 and expanding onshore wind power.