Wood in energy generation 2021

Heating and power plants consumed 24 million cubic metres or 46.8 terawatt hours of solid wood fuels in 2021. Together with the wood burned in small-scale housing, total consumption of solid wood fuels amounted to 31 million cubic metres and 62.1 terawatt-hours.

• According to the data of the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), heating and power plants consumed a total of 24.0 million solid cubic metres (46 terawatt hours) of solid wood fuels in 2021, up by 23% from the previous year. Combined with the fuelwood burned in small-scale housing, the total consumption of wood fuels increased to 31.0 million cubic metres and 62.1 terawatt hours.
• The consumption of forest chips increased by 26% from the year before, totalling 9.5 million cubic metres. The consumption of forest chips in the combined production of heat and power was 5.9 million cubic metres, up by 29% from the previous year. In heat production, their consumption increased by 20% to 3.6 million cubic metres. Combined with forest chips burnt in small-scale housing (0.6 million cubic metres), the total consumption of forest chips reached 10 million cubic metres.
• The majority of forest chips was produced from small-diameter trees, totalling 5.9 million cubic metres. This was 39% higher than in the year before. The consumption of logging residues increased by 8% to 2.7 million cubic metres. The consumption of forest chips made from stumps was 0.3 million cubic metres, and that of large-sized, mainly decayed and dead roundwood was 0.6 million cubic metres, being 16% more than in 2020.
• A total of 12.9 million cubic metres of forest industry by-products and wood residues were consumed in energy generation. This volume increased by more than two million cubic metres, or 23%, from 2020. Bark was consumed the most, totalling 7.9 million cubic metres. The consumption of various types of sawdust was 3.1 million cubic metres and that of industrial chips was 1.5 million cubic metres. In addition, the consumption of recycled wood totalled 1.3 million cubic metres and that of wood pellets and bricks 0.3 million cubic metres.
• The volume of chips imported into Finland was 4.4 million cubic metres as in the previous year. Based on the difference between the total volume of imported chips and the volume of imported chips consumed by the pulp industry in production, it can be estimated that heating and power plants consumed 1.9 million cubic metres imported chips in energy generation.
• Solid wood fuels were consumed the most in the region of Central Finland (2,4 million cubic metres). The consumption of forest chips was the highest in the region of Uusimaa (1.3 million cubic metres). The most forest industry by-products and wood residues were consumed as energy in the region of South Karelia (1.8 million cubic metres).

More information

Compared to preliminary data for 2021, solid wood fuels consumption in energy generation increased by 1,5%. The change is due to revised data on the consumption of solid wood fuels in heating and power plants.