Finland closes last coal-fired power plant

The last coal-fired power plant in Finland that still produces electricity and heat will be permanently closed this week, which will reduce emissions and put an end to rising electricity prices, Helen CEO Olli Sirkka told Reuters.

Renewable energy opportunities in Finland have been growing rapidly in recent years, which has led to a sharp reduction in the use of coal after the previous government passed a law in 2019 prohibiting the use of coal from 2029.

"Of course, we cannot say that not a single gram of coal will ever be burned in Finland again, because different decisions are made in crisis situations, but this is really the last coal—fired power plant in Finland that still operates in daily production mode," said Olli Sirkka.

To replace the annual output of 175 MW of electricity and 300 MW of heat generated by the Salmisaari coal-fired power plant, Helen will use electricity, waste heat and heat pumps, and will continue to burn pallets and wood chips.

"In the long term, we plan to completely abandon incineration," Sirkka said, adding that by 2030 the company he heads plans to reduce emissions to 5% of the 1990 level and completely abandon incineration by 2040.