In 2008, total electricity consumption in Finland amounted to 87.2 terawatt hours (TWh) or billion kilowatt hours (kWh). Of this consumption, 85% was covered by domestic production and the remaining 15% by imported electricity. Electricity is imported to Finland from the Nordic countries, Russia and Estonia.Electricity is also exported from Finland to the Nordic countries and Estonia.
In 2008, the volume of electricity produced in Finland amounted to 74.5 TWh. The volume was 3% down on the year before. The production of district heat stayed on level with the previous year, and industrial heat production was 4%down on the year before. District heat production amounted to 33.4 TWh and that of industrial heat to 59.4 TWh.
Thirty-six per cent of electricity was produced with renewable energy sources, 30% with nuclear power and 27% with fossil fuels. In electricity production, hydro power accounted for 23%, natural gas for 15% and coal for 11%.
In terms of water conditions, the year 2008 was favourable in the Nordic countries; domestic production of hydro power grew by 21%. The production of electricity with wood fuels grew by 28%. The production of wind power went up by 38% from the year before. The production of electricity with coal diminished by 37%, and that produced with peat by 30%. The consumption of both fell steeply in both combined heat and power plants and condensing power plants. The production of nuclear power decreased by 2%.
Electricity produced with Nordic hydro power was amply available, so the production of domestic condensing power fell steeply by more than a third. The volume of electricity generated in combined heat and power production decreased by 1%.
Combined heat and power production remained as the most significant mode of electricity generation; it accounted for 36% of all electricity produced in 2008.
The past few years have been milder than the average, and in 2008 the need of heating energy remained on level with the year before. By contrast, the consumption of heat for industrial processes fell from the level of the year before due to the economic recession and decreased industrial production capacity.
The use of fuels in the production of electricity and heat decreased by 9% in 2008. The use of coal and peat declined most, or by 33 and 20% respectively. The use of oil and black liquor from forestry decreased as well. By contrast, the use of wood grew by 15%.
