[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default” link_option_url=”https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/green\/2025\/04\/01\/finland-ahead-of-schedule-on-coal-phase-out-as-helsinkis-salmisaari-plant-closes” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]Wind power in Finland has more than doubled since 2020 to supply a quarter of the country\u2019s energy.
\nThe closure of a coal power plant in Finland today brings the country to the brink of a full coal phase-out – four years ahead of schedule.<\/p>\n
Power utility company Helen officially decommissioned its Salmisaari plant in Helsinki on 1 April, dropping coal to a less than 1 per cent share of the country\u2019s energy mix.<\/p>\n
Alongside reducing emissions and increasing energy independence, it says the switch is also helping it to cut customers’ electricity bills.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been able to improve our competitiveness by investing in the flexibility of the energy system in line with our strategy and shifting our production to green solutions,\u201d says Helen\u2019s CEO, Olli Sirkka.
\n\u201cThis way, we can operate more profitably with lower customer prices. Our success is an excellent indication that, at best, the clean transition, cost efficiency and Finland\u2019s security of supply can go hand in hand.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wind energy has replaced coal power in Finland
\nA surge in wind energy and government policy changes have led to a collapse of coal power in Finland in recent years.<\/p>\n
Since 2020, wind power capacity has more than doubled to supply a quarter of the country\u2019s energy. Over the same period, coal generation has dropped by 73 per cent from 2.44 terawatt hours to 0.67, now making up less than 1 per cent of the energy mix.<\/p>\n
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\nIn 2024, Salmisaari and Finland\u2019s other two remaining coal-burning plants – Vaskiluoto 2 and Martinlaakso 2 – contributed just 0.8 per cent of the country\u2019s energy. Vaskiluoto 2 only uses coal for about 30 per cent of its fuel. Martinlaakso 2 is co-fired using coal and biomass and its operator plans to stop burning coal in 2026.<\/p>\n
A third, Meri-Pori, remains only in strategic reserve for severe disruption or emergencies until the end of 2026.<\/p>\n
How has Finland almost phased out coal?
\nFinland\u2019s Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala congratulated Helen and all of the country\u2019s energy companies for their \u201cdetermination\u201d to end the use of coal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2019, Parliament nearly unanimously passed the law to ban the use of coal for energy within ten years,\u201d Multala said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt that time, the target seemed challenging, but now that it has been met ahead of schedule, passing the law appears very far-sighted.\u201d<\/p>\n
A comprehensive set of policies was combined with targeted support schemes, including a \u20ac22.8 million round of funding in 2021 directed towards innovative energy technologies and investments.<\/p>\n
Imported fossil energy has been replaced with cleaner solutions that reduce climate emissions, while consumers benefit from lower energy prices.
\n Sari Multala
\nFinland\u2019s Minister of Climate and the Environment
\nNow, wind power is the \u201cbiggest enabler of Finland\u2019s economic growth\u201d, according to a recent report from the Confederation of Finnish Industries. It accounts for \u20ac26 billion or 44 per cent of all green industry expected in the country in the near future.<\/p>\n
\u201cImported fossil energy has been replaced with cleaner solutions that reduce climate emissions, while consumers benefit from lower energy prices,\u201d Multala added. As Finland previously relied primarily on coal imported from Russia, the phase-out has also boosted Finland\u2019s energy independence and, therefore, national security.<\/p>\n
Campaigners say the law provided a clear signal to utility companies and investors that they needed to carry out the rapid shift.<\/p>\n
\u201cFinland has shown what\u2019s possible when clear political signals are matched with rapid investments in renewable power,\u201d says Cyrille Cormier, deputy campaign director at Beyond Fossil Fuels.<\/p>\n
\u201cWind alone has more than covered the gap left by coal and fossil gas, proving that renewable energy can be scaled fast, particularly when government policy created the right conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finland needs to double down on scaling renewables, campaigners say
\nCampaigning from civil society group Coal-Free Finland played a key role in securing the closure of Salmisaari. Executive director Minna Sumelius says their demands and those of the wider environmental community to phase out coal power were once considered impossible.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, closing down the Helsinki coal plants will cumulatively reduce Finland\u2019s total emissions by 5 per cent,\u201d she says. \u201cThis is a clear demonstration of the transformative power of the climate movement.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\nBut campaigners say there is still more the country can do, pointing to Finland\u2019s much delayed Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant and continued use of biomass.<\/p>\n
\u201cFinland is now on the cusp of a fossil-free power system. But the right way to finish the job isn\u2019t with biomass that can pollute as much as coal, nor with delayed, ridiculously expensive nuclear projects,\u201d Cormier says. \u201cIt\u2019s by doubling down on rapidly scalable renewables and clean flexibility that maximise their potential.\u201d<\/p>\n
Powering past coal
\nFollowing the UK\u2019s phase out of coal last year, Finland\u2019s efforts are a continuing transition away from coal power from OECD countries. A total of 14 OECD countries now operate coal-free power systems, with another 13 targeting coal phase out by 2030.<\/p>\n
In 2017, the UK and Canada created the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA), a group of countries looking to advance the transition away from unabated coal power generation around the world.<\/p>\n
Finland has been a member of the PPCA since its inception, and the alliance has now grown to 180 members – almost one-third of the world\u2019s governments and 84 per cent of the OECD and EU governments.<\/p>\n
\u201cFinland\u2019s case confirms that accelerating the shift from coal to clean energy is in countries\u2019 self-interest, as it increases energy security and fuels economic growth,\u201d says Julia Skorupska, head of secretariat for the PPCA.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt also proves that through bold commitments and proactive planning by governments, coal to clean transitions can happen much faster than anyone thought possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
With new national climate targets known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) expected in 2025, the PPCA says all countries have an opportunity to make commitments to phase out coal power and follow in Finland\u2019s footsteps.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy committing to No New Coal and coal phase-out in their 2035 NDCs, countries can unlock clean energy investments and thus fuel economic growth, lower electricity prices for consumers, and build resilience and independence, to the benefit of everyone,\u201d Skorupska adds.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.6.6″ _module_preset=”default” link_option_url=”https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/green\/2025\/04\/01\/finland-ahead-of-schedule-on-coal-phase-out-as-helsinkis-salmisaari-plant-closes” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]Wind power in Finland has more than doubled since 2020 to supply a quarter of the country\u2019s energy. The closure of a coal power plant in Finland today brings the country to the brink of a full coal phase-out – four years […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1561,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ege-windturbines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1557","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ege-windturbines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ege-windturbines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ege-windturbines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ege-windturbines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1557"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ege-windturbines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1557\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1562,"href":"https:\/\/ege-windturbines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1557\/revisions\/1562"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ege-windturbines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1561"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ege-windturbines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ege-windturbines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ege-windturbines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}