CO2 emission in energy sector ups 4% in Jan-Sep

The total energy consumption in the country in the January to September period amounted to 997 million terajoule or one per cent more than that in the corresponding period of last year, according to the Statistics Finland.

Electricity consumption amounted to 64 terawatt hours, which is three per cent more than that one year earlier. The use of peat increased clearly, which was the main reason for the four per cent growth in carbon dioxide emissions in the energy sector.

The consumption of peat grew in January to September by 30 per cent compared with that in the corresponding period of last year.

Examined in the longer term, the consumption of peat has, however, been on the decline and this year the consumption increased especially as a result of the cold weather in the early part of the year. Carbon dioxide emissions also increased as the consumption of natural gas started to rise after having fallen for seven years. The consumption of wood fuels went down by five per cent and that of coal by two per cent.

The growth in the consumption of electricity was caused by the cold weather as well as the improved economic situation of industry. The production of condensing power, which has been falling in several successive years, grew by 51 per cent in this year’s January to September. Solar and wind power also continued growing strongly. Net imports of electricity decreased four per cent, which was mostly due to increased exports to Estonia.

In January to September, diverse energy products were imported into Finland to the value of EUR 7.9 billion, which was 23 per cent more than that 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 4 billion, which was 15 per cent more than that one year previously. Most energy products were exported from Finland to EU countries, which accounted for 80 per cent of the value of exports.