Towards greener Helsinki. Photo: Kari Ylitalo, Helsinki Partners
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Helsinki has shut down its final coal-fired power plant, marking a major step in the city’s shift towards carbon neutrality. The Salmisaari power plant ceased operations on 1 April, ending more than a century of coal use in the Finnish capital.
The closure is expected to reduce Helsinki’s carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent compared to 2024. It also signifies the near-complete end of coal-burning for energy in Finland.
“Closing the coal-fired energy plants is an important and historical change for Helsinki, Finland and, ultimately, the whole planet,” said Juhana Vartiainen, Mayor of Helsinki. “Cities the world over have assumed a leading role in the fight against climate change. Helsinki wants to be a bold forerunner, on both a national and global level.”
The closure of Salmisaari follows the 2023 shutdown of Hanasaari B, another coal power plant operated by city-owned energy utility Helen Ltd. Together, these closures have cut Helsinki’s total CO2 emissions by 43 percent. At the national level, the impact is a five percent reduction in Finland’s overall emissions.
Until recently, coal played a dominant role in Helsinki’s energy supply. In 2022, coal still accounted for 64 percent of Helen’s district heat production.
Heat from electricity and waste
The end of coal does not mean a single replacement , with plans to start production in 2026.
Hydrogen is seen as a potential growth sector. Finland’s appeal for investors includes clean and affordable electricity, a stable policy environment, and strong infrastructure for utilising hydrogen by-products.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
