Energy in Finland

Finland lacks domestic sources of fossil energy and must import substantial amounts of petroleum, natural gas, and other energy resources, including uranium for nuclear power.

Consumption

Energy consumption increased 44 percent in electricity and 30 percent in the total energy use from 1990 to 2006. The increase in electricity consumption 15,000 GWh from 1995 to 2005 was more than the total hydropower capacity. The electricity consumption increased almost equally in all sectors (industry, homes, and services). The share of electricity generated from renewable energy in Finland has been stable from 1998 to 2005: 11 to 12 percent plus yearly changing hydropower, together around 24 to 27 percent. The RE of total energy has been 24 percent (1998 to 2005). The forest industry black liquor and forest industry wood burning were 57 percent (1990) and 67 percent (2005) of the RE of total energy.Energy statistics 2006, Finnish statistical center, Tilastokeskus, energiatilasto, Vuosikirja 2006.] The rest is mainly water power. The most of available hydropower for energy is already in use. The forest industry uses 30 percent of all electricity in Finland (1990-2005). Its process wastes, wood residues and black liquor, gave 7000-8000 GWh RE electricity in 2005. In the year 2005 this and electricity consumption fell 10 % compared to 2004 based on the long forest industry strike. [ [http://www.stat.fi/tk/yr/fi_nir_150407.pdf Greenhouse gas emissions in Finland 1990-2005] National Inventory Report to the UNFCCC 15.4.2007, Finnish statistics] Finland consumed (2005) 17.3 MWh electricity per capita compared to Germany 7.5 MWh per capita. This number includes the power losses of the distribution.

Production

Fossil fuels

Petroleum

In 2007 oil imports were almost 11 million tonnes in Finland. In 2006, Finnish oil imports came from Russia (64 percent), Norway (11 percent), Denmark (11 percent), and the rest from United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, and Algeria. Petroleum comprises 24 percent of Finnish energy consumption. Most of petroleum is used in vehicles, but about 260,000 homes are heated by heating oil.

Neste Oil is the sole oil refiner in Finland, exporting petroleum products such as gasoline and fuel oil to Baltic countries and North America. Oil imports were valued at 6.5 billion euros and exports 3 billion euros in 2006. [http://www.oil-gas.fi/index.php?m=4&id=203]

Natural gas

In 2006 natural gas comprised 11 percent of Finnish energy consumption, while the consumption was 4.52 billion metric tonnes. All natural gas is imported from Russia. Natural gas has been used since 1974 after the first oil crisis. [http://www.oil-gas.fi/index.php?m=4&id=210] Gasum is the Finnish importer and seller of natural gas, which owns and operates Finnish natural gas transmission system. Natural gas vehicles aren't popular in Finland, but natural gas powered busses exist.

Coal

Coal is imported from Russia and Poland. 5.6 million tonnes were used in 2007.

Nuclear power

As of 2008, Finland's nuclear power program has four nuclear reactors in two power plants. The first of these came into operation in 1977. In 2007 they provided 28.4% of Finland's electricity [ [http://www.nea.fr/html/general/profiles/finland.html#nppstatus Nuclear Energy Agency Country Profiles - Finland ] ] . They are among the world's most efficient, with average capacity factors [ The capacity factor is the energy produced in a year by a power plant as a percentage of the energy it would have produced had it been operating at full capacity for the entire year.] of 94% in the 1990s [ [http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf76.html Nuclear Energy in Finland: WNA ] ] . A fifth nuclear reactor is under construction, scheduled to go online in 2011.

Renewable energy

Renewable energy of electricity (2005):
*Water, 60 percent
*Forest industry black liquor, 22 percent
*Other wood residues, 16 percent
*Wind power, 0.2 percent
*Other, 1 percent

The renewable energy objectives set by the European Union are 22 percent renewable source electricity and 12 percent renewable of primary energy by 2010 under the European Union directive 2003/30/EC (Directive on the Promotion of the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels for transport) and white paper). This includes the objectives of 40 GW wind power, 3 GW photovoltaics and 5.75 percent biofuels by 2010.

Energy policy

The objective of RE (2005) of electricity was 35 % (1997-2010). However, (2006) the Finnish objective was dropped to 31.5 % (1997-2010). According to ‘Renewables Global Status Report’ Finland aims to increase RE only 2 % in 13 years. This objective to add the RE use with 2 % in 13 years is among the modest of all the EU countries. [ [http://www.ren21.net/pdf/RE_GSR_2006_Update.pdf 2005: Record year for investments in renewable energy REN21] “Renewables Global Status Report 2006 Update”, REN21. 2006. (Paris: REN21 Secretariat and Washington, DC:Worldwatch Institute).]

Carbon emissions

The Finnish CO₂ emissions grew 14.5 % (1990:2004), when EU average was - 0.6 %. [ [http://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/background_publications_htmlpdf/application/pdf/ghg_booklet_06.pdf Highlights from Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Data for 1990-2004] United Nations Convention on Climate Change] According to the Finnish RE organisations and Finnish public the potential of RE increase in Finland is huge.

References