Total energy consumption grew by 6 per cent in January to March

According to Statistics Finland’s preliminary data, total energy consumption in January to March amounted to 376 petajoule (PJ), which was six per cent more than in the corresponding period last year. Electricity consumption amounted to 25 terawatt hours (TWh), which was eight per cent more than one year earlier. Carbon dioxide emissions from the energy use of fuels increased by four per cent compared to the first quarter of last year.

Total energy consumption

*preliminary

The cold early part of the year was the main reason for the growth in total energy consumption in the first quarter. Among energy sources, the growth was biggest for natural gas, the consumption of which rose by as much as 47 per cent. The Finnish natural gas market also opened up to competition from the beginning of 2020. The consumption of coal grew by two per cent, which evened out the steep decline that had taken place in the past three years. The consumption of wood fuels increased by 15 per cent from the first quarter of last year when the consumption of wood fuels was at its lowest since 2010s. The consumption of oil and peat declined by 3 and 10 per cent, respectively.

The cold weather conditions also had an effect on the growth in electricity consumption. Renewable electricity production had exceptionally good conditions in the previous year, which was visible in the statistics as a drop in production this year. The production of hydro power and wind power decreased by 3 and 23 per cent from the first quarter of the year before. The fall in renewable production was replaced with combined heat and power production and imports of electricity. The volumes of combined production and net imports of electricity both grew by 24 per cent.

In January to March, diverse energy products were imported into Finland to the value of EUR 2.1 billion, which was two per cent less than one year earlier. Most energy products were imported from Russia, whose share of the value of imports was 59 per cent. Exports of energy products from Finland amounted to EUR one billion. The value of exports decreased by 8 per cent from the corresponding quarter of the year before. Most energy products were exported to OECD countries, which accounted for 69 per cent of the value of exports.

Total energy consumption by source (TJ) and CO2 emissions (Mt)

Energy source	I/2021*	Annual change-%*	Percentage share of total energy consumption*
Oil (fossil) ¹⁾	65,152	-3	17
Coal ²⁾	25,500	2	7
Natural gas ³⁾	31654	47	8
Nuclear energy ⁴⁾	65,926	0	18
Net imports of electricity ⁵⁾	17,115	24	5
Hydro power ⁵⁾	14,864	-3	4
Wind power ⁵⁾	7,418	-23	2
Peat	16,390	-10	4
Wood fuels	106,915	15	28
Others ⁶⁾	25,009	9	7
TOTAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION	375,943	6	100
CO2 emissions from energy sector	11	4	.

* = Preliminary data
. = Category not applicable
1) Oil: includes the bio part of transport fuels.
2) Coal: includes hard coal, coke, blast furnace gas and coke oven gas.
3) The consumption of natural gas does not include raw material use.
4) Conversion of electricity generation into fuel units: Nuclear power: 10.91 TJ/GWh (33% total efficiency)
5) Conversion of electricity generation into fuel units: Hydro power, wind power and net imports of electricity: 3.6 TJ/GWh (100%)
6) Others: includes exothermic heat from industry, recovered fuels, heat pumps, hydrogen, biogas, other bioenergy and solar energy.

Source: Statistics Finland, Energy supply and consumption

Inquiries: Aleksi Sandberg 029 551 3326, energia@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Katri Kaaja

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Figures

Appendix figure 1. Changes in GDP, Final energy consumption and electricity consumption (30.6.2021)
Appendix figure 2. Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and peat use (30.6.2021)
Appendix figure 3. Coal consumption (30.6.2021)
Appendix figure 4. Natural gas consumption (30.6.2021)
Appendix figure 5. Energy peat consumption (30.6.2021)
Appendix figure 6. Domestic oil deliveries (30.6.2021)

Revisions in these statistics

Revisions in these statistics (30.6.2021)

Updated 30.6.2021

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Energy supply and consumption [e-publication].
ISSN=1799-7976. 1st quarter 2021. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 28.12.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/ehk/2021/01/ehk_2021_01_2021-06-30_tie_001_en.html