Page 38 - European Energy Innovation - spring 2018 publication

38 Spring 2018 European Energy Innovation

FINLAND ENERGY

Consumption of renewable
energy at all-time high in 2016

By Pekka Ripatti (pictured), Director, Energy Authority, Finland

In 2016, 127 TWh of renewable 2%, which was mainly caused by the
energy was consumed. This increase in industrial production.
is 34% of the total use and Following the development of the
approximately 40% of the final gross domestic product, however,
consumption. 96 TWh was produced energy consumption decreased for
from wood fuels, which constitutes five consecutive years in 2010–2015.
76% of renewable energy. Most of On the other hand, the traditional
the energy produced from wood was connection between the gross
used in heat generation. Hydropower domestic product and energy
amounted to 13% and wind power to consumption is weakening due to
2% of renewable energy. The amount the structural changes in the Finnish
of electricity produced from renewable economy. When looking at individual
energy sources was 30 TWh, which energy sources, the most significant
constitutes 35% of year’s electricity changes in comparison with 2015
consumption. were the decrease in the use of natural
gas and peat and the increase in the
According to preliminary data from use of coal and the net imports of
Statistics Finland, Finland’s energy electricity. In relation to earlier energy
consumption in 2016 was 371 TWh, of production, the production of wind
which final consumption constituted energy increased the most, but it’s
81% or 300 TWh (Figures 1 and 2). The share of the total energy consumption
difference between total consumption was only around one per cent.
and final consumption is caused by
the loss of energy during conversion A record amount of electricity,
and transmission of energy. Compared approximately 19 TWh, was imported
to 2015, consumption increased by in Finland even though the use of

Total use and end use of energy 2015-2016, TWhTotal use and end use of energy 2015-2016, TWh

450

400

102 101 110
350

94 108 110
300 95 120 119
124 127
126

2 50 313 323 309 322 313 326 304 306 303 300 293 End use
2 00 283 297 276 260 262 250 235 Renewables
150 308 274 289 Other

286 300
100 244

50

0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Axis Title
2005