Consumption of hard coal: documentation of statistics

The statistics present data on the use of hard coal in the production of electricity and heat by month and on stocks of hard coal at the end of the month.

The population of the statistics consists of units consuming hard coal as fuel in energy production.

The basic unit of the statistics is a plant using hard coal in energy production.

The measurement units used in the data on consumption of hard coal are 1,000 t, MWh, ktoe, TJ. The measurement unit used in the data on stocks of hard coal is 1,000 t. The unit used for annual, quarterly and monthly changes is per cent (%).

Each time, the published statistics describe the previous quarter. The statistics are published one to two months after the end of the quarter.

The statistics are published on the level of the whole country.

The statistics cover the volume of hard coal consumption in energy production in Finland and the size of hard coal stocks on a monthly level.

Annual data on the consumption of hard coal are available on the web pages starting from 1970. Monthly and quarterly data on consumption of hard coal are available starting from 2000 and monthly data on stocks of hard coal starting from 2006.

The data are preliminary until the final annual consumption of hard coal is known. The data for the previous year are updated to final data in the release for the third or fourth quarter of the current year.
 

The statistics are published quarterly. The data are preliminary until the final annual consumption of hard coal is known. Preliminary monthly data become revised over the year and the cumulative consumption of the whole year becomes revised when the annual statistics concerning the year in question are finalised. The data for the previous year are updated to final data in the release for the third or fourth quarter of the current year. The released data can also be corrected retrospectively if significant changes are detected in the data sources or calculation models.

The data are preliminary until the final annual consumption of hard coal is known. Uncertainty may arise from inaccuracies in the measurement of data providers’ fuel volumes. Data concerning small users are estimated based on previous years. If there are major changes in their use volumes relative to the users included in the sample or to previous years, it causes an error in the statistics. Due to the coverage of the sample, this error is not significant.

The data for the previous year are updated to final data in the release for the third or fourth quarter of the current year. Final annual consumption data are calculated based on several statistical data sources, which are also used in the annual release of the statistics on energy supply and consumption. Final consumption data on hard coal are benchmarked on the monthly level to correspond with these final data.

Monthly consumption in the previous quarter and cumulative consumption in the whole year are published as new data in each release. The statistics are published one to two months after the end of the quarter.

The statistics are published at the time indicated in the release calendar. There is no delay between the release calendar and the actual release date.

The published data are preliminary until the final annual consumption of hard coal is known. In connection with each release, the previously published data will be revised if necessary. In the last quarter of the year, the consumption data on hard coal are benchmarked on the monthly level to correspond with the final annual consumption data, which are calculated based on several statistical data sources. Some of the data become revised less frequently than annually. The released data can also be corrected retrospectively if significant changes are detected in the data sources or calculation models.

The data collection is based on Statistics Finland's own data collection from the biggest users of hard coal and the collected data cover over 95 per cent of the use of hard coal on the annual level. Data for small users are estimated based on previous years and if there are major changes in their use volumes relative to the users included in the sample or to previous years, it causes errors in the statistics. Due to the coverage of the sample, this error is not significant.

The population of the statistics consists of major users of hard coal. The collected data cover over 95 per cent of the use of hard coal on the annual level. Data concerning small users are estimated based on previous years. The data are preliminary until the final annual consumption of hard coal is known. In the last quarter of the year, the consumption data on hard coal are benchmarked on the monthly level to correspond with the final annual consumption data, which are calculated based on several statistical data sources.

Uncertainty may arise from uncertainty in the measurement of data providers’ fuel volumes.

The data collection is based on Statistics Finland's own data collection and all major users of hard coal are included in the inquiry. The data supply obligation is based on the Finnish Statistics Act (280/2004, Section 14). If the data have not been reported or there are deficiencies, the data are asked from the data provider again separately.

Examples of possible errors in statistical releases include erroneous figures in release texts, figures or tables, or use of incorrect concepts. Unlike revisions, error situations are unexpected deviations in the normal production of statistics.

Errors are corrected and the users are informed about them as quickly as possible. Statistics Finland informs about significant errors to the same extent and through the same channels as in the releasing of the original data.

Notations about corrections and their points of time are added to the corrected releases.
 

The statistics are utilised in international reporting concerning the consumption of hard coal. The basis of division used in international reporting are, however, different from those used in national data, for which reason the figures of national statistics cannot be directly compared with the Finnish figures reported by e.g. Eurostat.

From 2005 onwards, monthly data of the statistics are not fully uniform with earlier years. This is because previously the data of the statistics were produced in the then Ministry of Trade and Industry based on data collected by Finergy’s (Finnish Energy Industries Federation) Coal Users’ Committee using a slightly different method than at present.

The statistics are used at Statistics Finland in the compilation of quarterly statistics on total energy consumption. The statistics are also a central data source in the compilation of the release of preliminary data on energy consumption, i.e. the fourth quarter of the statistics on energy supply and consumption. The statistics are also utilised in the monthly statistics on consumption of hard coal reported to Eurostat. The data are comparable with other statistics on the topic of energy. The concepts of the statistics are coherent with those of Statistics Finland’s other statistics on the topic of energy.

Emissions caused by energy production form a central part of the GHG inventory. The data of the statistics on consumption of hard coal are coherent with the GHG inventory concerning emissions caused by energy consumption of hard coal.
 

The data are preliminary until the final annual consumption of hard coal is known. In the last quarter of the year, the consumption data on hard coal are benchmarked on the monthly level to correspond with the final annual consumption data, which are calculated based on several statistical data sources.

Energy statistics form a coherent whole, where various parts are used to form, for example, the national energy balance and consumption data on hard coal are used in the statistics on energy supply and consumption. Thus, the coherence between different sets of energy statistics is good.

The data source is Statistics Finland's own data collection directed at the major users of hard coal as fuel in Finland.

The data are collected from respondents by email with Excel forms.

The data are collected four times per year. Final annual consumption data are calculated on the basis of several statistical data sources and final hard coal consumption data are benchmarked on the monthly level to correspond with these data.

Efforts have been made to minimise the response burden. Data are collected from major users of hard coal quarterly and the data for small users not included in the inquiry are estimated based on previous years.

The data collected from major users of hard coal cover over 95 per cent of the use of hard coal on the annual level. The share that is not included in the inquiry is estimated based on previous years. The consumption data of the population are raised to correspond to the total consumption of hard coal.

The responses obtained with the data collection are examined in detail and the data are checked, for example, by comparing the consumption data in amount of energy and tonnes with each other. The data are also compared with previous periods and other data sources.

Seasonally adjusted data are not used in the statistics.

Statistics Finland

Economic Statistics/Energy, environment and greenhouse gases

The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics. 

Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.  

Further information: Statistical legislation 

The compilation of statistics is guided by the general act of the national statistical service, the Statistics Act (280/2004, amend. 361/2013). Only the necessary data that are not available from administrative data sources are collected from data suppliers. Index series are published so that no individual enterprise's data or development can be deduced from them.

The statistics belong to the Official Statistics of Finland (OSF) and to the European Statistical system (ESS).

In Finland, the compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act (280/2004). The obligation to provide data is statutory and based on the Statistics Act (280/2004, Section 14) according to which practitioners of trade are obliged to provide Statistics Finland with such data that are necessary for the compilation of statistics. The Regulation on energy statistics (2008/1099/EC), obliges Statistics Finland to report data, of which the statistics on production of electricity and heat are an important part, to the EU. The data produced by energy statistics are needed to monitor the measures of the Directive on energy efficiency (2012/27/EU) and the Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (2009/28/EC).

Statistics Finland is obliged to report energy statistics to the IEA, which is an organisation within the OECD framework.

The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed in accordance with the requirements of the Statistics Act (280/2004), the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999), the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and the Data Protection Act (1050/2018). The data materials are protected at all stages of processing with the necessary physical and technical solutions. Statistics Finland has compiled detailed directions and instructions for confidential processing of the data. Employees have access only to the data essential for their duties. The premises where unit-level data are processed are not accessible to outsiders. Members of the personnel have signed a pledge of secrecy upon entering the service. Violation of data protection is punishable. 

Further information: Data protection | Statistics Finland (stat.fi) 

Confidentiality is taken into account when data are published, and it is ensured that the data or development of the data of a single enterprise cannot be deduced on the basis of the results.

Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data are public after they have been updated in the web service. 

Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland 

Statistics Finland compiles and publishes data on the use of hard coal in the production of electricity and heat and on stocks of hard coal four times per year. In addition, the data of the statistics are submitted to Eurostat monthly on the day of the release and Eurostat publishes the data on its web pages. When becoming a member of the international energy organisation IEA, Finland also committed to submitting energy data to the IEA.

 

Statistical data are published as database tables in the StatFin database. The database is the primary publishing site of data, and new data are updated first there. When releasing statistical data, existing database tables can be updated with new data or completely new database tables can be published.   

In addition to statistical data published in the StatFin database, a release on the key data is usually published in the web service. If the release contains data concerning several reference periods (e.g. monthly and annual data), a review bringing together these data is published in the web service. Database tables updated at the time of publication are listed both in the release and in the review. In some cases, statistical data can also be published as mere database releases in the StatFin database. No release or review is published in connection with these database releases. 

Releases and database tables are published in three languages, in Finnish, Swedish and English. The language versions of releases may have more limited content than in Finnish.   

Information about changes in the publication schedules of releases and database tables and about corrections are given as change releases in the web service. 

The data of the statistics are released on predefined days on Statistics Finland's web pages on the home page of the statistics. The home page contains links to, for example, the description of the statistics, concepts and definitions as well as the free of charge statistical database tables (StatFin). Information on the topic is also available in the Energy table service.

Unit-level data of the statistics are used only for producing the statistics and others than the compilers of the statistics do not have access to micro data.

Revisions – i.e. improvements in the accuracy of statistical data already published – are a normal feature of statistical production and result in improved quality of statistics. The principle is that statistical data are based on the best available data and information concerning the statistical phenomenon. On the other hand, the revisions are communicated as transparently as possible in advance. Advance communication ensures that the users can prepare for the data revisions. 

The reason why data in statistical releases become revised is often caused by the data becoming supplemented. Then the new, revised statistical figure is based on a wider information basis and describes the phenomenon more accurately than before. 

Revisions of statistical data may also be caused by the calculation method used, such as annual benchmarking or updating of weight structures. Changes of base years and used classifications may also cause revisions to data.

The statistics are intended to be used for the needs of social decision-making, enterprises and their interest groups and research. The data are utilised, for example, in the calculation of total energy consumption, monitoring the consumption of hard coal and the market, as well as in international reporting (EU, IEA). The data on stocks are utilised for the needs of the National Emergency Supply Agency.

Quality description available at: Documentation of statistics Consumption of hard coal - Statistics Finland.

The quality of the data is evaluated in several stages of the statistical process and the data are compared with other statistical data sources. The production process of the statistics is linked to other statistics on the energy topic in order to ensure a uniform whole.

Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The quality management framework of the field of statistics is the European Statistics Code of Practice (CoP). The frameworks complement each other. The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are also compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice. 

Further information: Quality management | Statistics Finland (stat.fi) 

Data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may only be handled at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published. 

Further information: Publication principles for statistics 

Unless otherwise separately stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer of the data and the owner of the copyright. The terms of use for statistical data.