Finland has officially shut down its last active coal-fired power and heat plant, marking a major step in its clean energy transition. The closure of the Salmisaari plant by energy company Helen will reduce its carbon emissions by 50% from last year and cut nearly 2% of Finland’s total national emissions. Despite the move away from coal, Finland retains the third-lowest electricity prices in Europe, after Sweden and Norway.
Finland’s transition away from coal is backed by a strong foundation of alternative energy sources. According to the International Energy Agency, the country’s total energy supply in 2023 was led by biofuels and waste (31%), nuclear energy (28%), and oil (22%), while coal contributed only 6.8%—a number that is now set to drop even further.
According to Helen CEO Olli Sirkka, the plant’s shutdown comes as renewable energy sources like wind and solar have rapidly expanded across the country. “We cannot say no coal will ever be burned again due to emergency reserves, but this was Finland’s last coal plant in daily use,” he said. To replace the Salmisaari plant’s 175 MW of power and 300 MW of heat, Helen will rely on electricity, heat pumps, waste heat, and biomass, with long-term plans to eliminate all forms of combustion by 2040.
Finland’s bold step is setting an example for other countries working toward cleaner energy, including Indonesia, which is in the early stages of planning its own coal phase-out. At Energy Academy Indonesia (ECADIN), our mission is to create a greener future by accelerating energy transition and promoting just sustainable growth. We’re proud to contribute research, innovation, advocacy and connecting expertise, knowledge, business actors and financing means. We value our diversity and focus on creating an inclusive environment where our team and partners can flourish.
References:
