Energy consumption falls by 1% in Jan-June

The total energy consumption in January to June 2017 amounted to 686 petajoule (PJ), which is almost at the same level as during the corresponding period one year before, according to Statistics Finland.

The preliminary data of the Statistics Finland also said that electricity consumption amounted to 44 terawatt hours (TWh), which is equal to a year earlier. The carbon dioxide emissions of the energy sector also remained on level with the year before.

The consumption of natural gas fell by seven per cent in January to June period this year. The consumption of coal fell by one per cent. Of other fuels, the consumption of oil and peat remained at last year’s level. The consumption of wood fuels grew by four per cent and they were the biggest energy source with a 27 per cent share of total consumption.

The volume of electricity produced with hydro power was 20 per cent lower than in January to June 2016. Net imports of electricity increased by 11 per cent from last year’s level and their share in total electricity consumption was 24 per cent. Electricity produced with wind power increased by 87 per cent and its share in total consumption grew to five per cent.

In January to June, diverse energy products were imported into Finland to the value of EUR 4.4 billion, which was 31 per cent more than one year earlier. Most energy products were imported from Russia, whose share of the value of imports was 63 per cent. Energy products were exported to the value of EUR 2.2 billion, which was 28 per cent more than one year before. Most energy products were exported from Finland to EU countries, which accounted for 81 per cent of the value of exports.

Stocks of coal amounted to 14 TWh at the end of June, which was 18 per cent less than one year earlier. At the end of June, it was estimated that the peat stocks contained 11 TWh of energy peat, or 34 per cent less than one year earlier.