In 2023, Finland’s net import of electricity was remarkably low, with a total consumption decrease of just 2%. According to preliminary data from Statistics Finland, the total consumption of electricity in Finland last year was 79.8 TWh. Domestic electricity production saw a significant increase of 13%, while net electricity imports fell by an impressive 86%. This means that almost all of Finland’s electricity needs were met through domestic production, the largest share since the end of the 1970s.
The nuclear power sector experienced a growth of 35%, wind power by 25%, hydropower by 13%, and solar power by an astonishing 65% compared to the previous year. However, despite these increases, solar power still only accounted for less than one percent of the total electricity consumption in Finland.
In terms of specific energy sources, wind power reached a new record in production with 14.5 terawatt hours and nuclear power also increased to an impressive 32.7 terawatt hours. The share of nuclear power in Finland’s total electricity consumption rose to an unprecedented level at 41%. Hydropower and wind power were the second and third largest energy sources for electricity respectively.
On the other hand, there was a significant decrease in electricity produced through burning fuels, down by 23% from the previous year. Cogeneration of electricity and heat covered just over a fifth (17%) of electricity consumption but decreased by nearly half from the previous year. The net import of electricity covered only two percent of Finland’s total energy needs, a notably small share compared to previous years.
Finland continued its long-standing tradition as a major importer of Swedish electricity with no Russian imports in sight in 2023 according to Statistics Finland’s information based on Energiateollisuus ry.’s statistics on Finnish electricity production and consumption trends.
