Home > Statistics > Consumption of hard coal > 2008 > December > Consumption of hard coal decreased by 33 per cent last year

Published: 27 January 2009

Consumption of hard coal decreased by 33 per cent last year

Approximately 3.8 million tonnes (94,000 TJ) of hard coal was consumed as fuel in the generation of electricity and heat in 2008. The consumption fell by 33 per cent from the previous year and was 31 per cent below the average for the 2000s. Use of hard coal decreased both in separate production of electricity and in combined heat and power production. The reasons for the decreased consumption were the favourable water situation in Finland and ample production of hydro power, and the start of the second EU emissions trading period at the beginning of the year. Mild weather also reduced the need for heating energy.

In the last quarter, the use of hard coal increased in condensing power production due to lowered prices of emission rights and depletion of the water supply in the Nordic countries. However, Finland still had a plentiful supply of water in the last quarter and was a net seller on the Nordic electricity market. The economic downturn reduced industry's electricity need towards the end of the year. Twenty-eight per cent less hard coal was consumed in the last quarter than in the corresponding period of the year before.

Consumption of Hard Coal, 12-month moving total, million tonnes

Consumption of Hard Coal, 1,000 t

	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
January	490	580	820	890	380	550	560	410
February	600	440	750	720	430	590	680	330
March	640	420	730	660	570	660	510	330
April	430	320	660	550	280	420	340	230
May	340	190	570	490	230	370	240	150
June	260	130	380	460	90	450	300	170
July	190	210	380	410	50	500	110	90
August	210	270	490	480	90	580	300	200
September	230	450	650	430	90	680	500	370
October	330	760	700	530	210	660	640	430
November	420	770	700	630	300	660	750	520
December	570	800	800	480	460	450	720	570
Whole year	4 710	5 360	7 640	6 720	3 200	6 590	5 660	3 790

Hard Coal Stocks, month-end, million tonnes

	2006	2007	2008
January	5.0	4.4	3.6
February	4.6	4.1	3.6
March	4.1	4.2	3.7
April	3.9	4.4	3.7
May	3.8	4.8	3.9
June	3.7	4.8	4.0
July	3.4	4.9	4.1
August	3.2	5.0	4.3
September	3.3	4.7	4.1
October	3.5	4.5	3.9
November	3.8	4.1	4.1
December	4.4	3.7	4.4

Source: Since 2005 Statistics Finland, 1997-2004 Coal Users' Committee/Finergy

Inquiries: Mr Anssi Vuorio +358 9 1734 2685 energia.tilastokeskus@stat.fi

Director in charge: Ms Leena Storgårds

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Last updated 27.1.2009