Wood in energy generation 2022

A total of 29.9 million cubic metres, or 60.3 terawatt hours, of solid wood fuels was consumed by heating and power plants and in small-scale burning. The volume decreased from the previous year by 1.7 terawatt hours, or 1.0 million cubic metres.

• In 2022, combined heating and power plants consumed a total of 23.0 million solid cubic metres (45.0 TWh) of solid wood fuels, decreased by 4% from the previous year. 
• Small-scale burning – small-scale housing and farms – accounted for 6.9 million solid cubic metres (15.3 TWh). 

Heating and power plants

• The consumption of forest chips was 10.2 million cubic metres, up by 7% from the previous year. 
• The increase in the consumption of forest chips specially resulted from the increased consumption in combined heat and power generation, i.e. at CHP plants. They consumed a total of 6.5 million cubic metres of forest chips (+9%). In heat generation alone, the consumption of forest chips increased by 2% to 3.7 million cubic metres.
• Of the forest chips, 6.3 million cubic metres (+6%) were produced from small-sized trees, i.e. from pruned and unpruned stems, and pulpwood. The consumption of logging residues was 3.0 million cubic metres (+12%), that of large-sized roundwood 0.6 million cubic metres (-6%), and that of stumps 0.3 million cubic metres (-2%).
• The consumption of different solid forest industry by-products was 11.1 million cubic metres (-13%). Of this amount, bark accounted for 6.7 million cubic metres (-15%), industrial chips 1.4 million cubic metres (-7%), different types of sawdust 2.9 million cubic metres (-6%), and unidentified industrial residues 0.2 million cubic metres (-62%). 
• The consumption of recycled wood was 1.3 million cubic metres (+3%). In addition, a total of 465,000 tons, or 0.4 million cubic metres (-1%), of wood pellets and bricks were consumed.
• Solid wood fuels were consumed the most in the region of Central Finland (2.2 million cubic metres). Forest industry by-products and residues were  consumed the most in South Karelia (1.7 million cubic metres). The consumption of forest chips was the highest in Uusimaa (1.3 million cubic metres). 

Small-scale burning of wood

• The information is based on a sampling survey for the 2016/2017 heating season. 
• The consumption of logwood and smallwood was 5.9 million cubic metres.
• The consumption of forest chips was 0.6 million cubic metres.
• The consumption of other wood, including pellets, was 0.4 million cubic metres.

The statistics have previously been published as preliminary. Compared to the preliminary statistics, the use of solid wood fuels increased by 0.2 million cubic metres i.e. 0.5 TWh, due to the revision of the data for heating and power plants.

Change in statistics 21.3.2023.

Read more on the page Changes and corrections in the statistics.