Importance of Fossil Fuels in Finland's Energy Mix

Abstract

The article presents the energy situation of Finland, with particular emphasis on energy resources. The introduction describes the geographical location of Finland, the population, the political system, and the wealth of Finnish society against the background of the European Union. Attention is paid to relatively low total and per capita carbon dioxide emissions. The energy mix, which is overwhelmingly based on renewable energy sources and nuclear power, especially for electricity generation, is also presented. Despite the fact that Finland has been focusing on increasing the share of renewables in its energy mix for years, as well as developing nuclear power plants, to ensure a continuous supply of energy, it is necessary to import both electricity itself and energy raw materials, with a particular focus on fossil fuels. The main part of the article focuses on presenting the consumption of crude oil, natural gas, and coal in the years 1980–2022. The directions of imports of these energy sources, which have changed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, are also shown. Ensuring a continuous supply of energy resources from economically and politically stable countries will ensure Finland's energy security and development opportunities in the coming years.