Over the past year, from August 2024 to July 2025, Finland has made impressive strides in its electricity consumption patterns, with a commendable 89% of its electricity being sourced from low-carbon, clean energy. This achievement highlights Finland's commitment to sustainable energy practices. With nuclear energy contributing to more than a third of the electricity generation, it stands as a significant pillar supporting the country's clean energy infrastructure. Wind power, making up nearly a quarter of the electricity supply, further complements this clean energy composition, alongside hydropower, which provides about 14%. Biofuels also contribute a noteworthy share, rounding out the mix of low-carbon sources. Only a minimal 1.6% of electricity still comes from fossil fuels. Despite this success, Finland faces the challenge of electrifying various sectors like transport, heating, and industry, which will demand a significant increase in electricity generation.
Is Electricity Growing in Finland?
When it comes to electricity consumption trends, Finland shows a mixed picture. The current per capita electricity consumption stands at 15,144 kWh, which is a reduction from the peak consumption in 2006 of approximately 17,795 kWh per person. This represents a decrease of around 2,650 kWh. However, the production from low-carbon sources specifically saw a slight decline from the previous record of 14,079 kWh per person in 2024 to 13,485 kWh in 2025, marking a difference of 594 kWh. While this reduction in total electricity and low-carbon generation indicates some setbacks, the overall reliance on clean energy sources remains robust. Embracing sustained growth in electricity generation is essential as Finland seeks to meet the increasing demand driven by industry and technology advancements such as AI.
Suggestions
To boost its low-carbon electricity generation capacity, Finland could focus on expanding its nuclear and wind power infrastructure. With nuclear energy already constituting a substantial part of its low-carbon portfolio, increasing the capacity of existing nuclear facilities or constructing new ones would further solidify Finland's energy security while reducing dependency on fossil fuels. Furthermore, further investments in wind power could amplify its share in electricity generation. Although solar currently contributes only a small fraction, enhancing solar capacity could also help diversify the clean energy mix. By strategically channeling investments and policy support towards these technologies, Finland can ensure a sustainable, reliable, and clean electricity supply for the future.
History
Diving into the history of low-carbon electricity generation in Finland, significant strides have taken place across several decades. In the early 1980s, nuclear energy output experienced a substantial increase of 7.4 TWh, while hydropower rose by 4 TWh, marking a period of robust growth. The late 2000s saw more fluctuations in hydropower output, with increases and decreases that reflect the natural variability in water availability. A notable leap occurred in 2023 when nuclear generation increased by 9 TWh, underscoring nuclear energy's potential to rapidly scale up generation. The following year, wind power experienced a strong boost of 5.4 TWh. The consistent incremental enhancements in both wind and nuclear sectors over the past decade emphasize the positive trend towards expanding low-carbon electricity. These trends reveal a proactive approach in Finland's energy strategy, although periods of decline, like the reduction in nuclear capacity in 2025, serve as a reminder that sustained growth is crucial to maintain momentum for a clean energy future.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.