Wood in energy generation 2023 (provisional)

The data have been revised on June 7th, 2024.

According to the preliminary data of the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), heating and power plants consumed a total of 22.5 million solid cubic metres (44,1 terawatt hours) of solid wood fuels in 2023, showing a decrease of 2% from the previous year. The consumption of forest chips increased by 8%, while the volume of forest industry by-products decreased by 10%. Combined with the fuelwood burned in small-scale housing, the total consumption of wood fuels was 29.4 million cubic metres

Heating and power plants

• In 2023, heating and power plants consumed a total of 22.5 million solid cubic metres (44,1 TWh) of solid wood fuels, showing a decrease of 2% from the previous year. 
• The consumption of forest chips was 11.0 million cubic metres, up by 8% from the previous year.
• Combined heating and power plants (CHP) consumed a total of 7.0 million cubic metres of forest chips (+8%). In heat generation alone, the consumption of forest chips increased by 9% to 4.0 million cubic metres.
• Of all forest chips, 6.7 million cubic metres were produced from small-diameter trees, i.e. from pruned and unpruned stems, and pulpwood. The use of small-diameter trees increased by 0.4 million cubic metres. The use of large-sized roundwood which is not eligible as forest industry raw material was 1.1 million cubic metres. This was 0.5 million cubic metres more than in the previous year. The consumption of logging residues was 3.0 million cubic metres (-1 %). The use of stumps increased two percent to 0.3 million cubic metres.
• The consumption of different solid forest industry by-products was 10.1 million cubic metres (-10%). Of this amount, bark accounted for 6.0 million cubic metres (-11%), industrial chips 1.2 million cubic metres (-11%), different types of sawdust 2.6 million cubic metres (-9%), and unidentified industrial residues 0.2 million cubic metres. 
• The consumption of recycled wood was 1.1 million cubic metres (-15%). In addition, a total of 0,4 million tonnes (-13%), of wood pellets and briquettes were consumed.
• The consumption of solid wood fuels was the highest in the region of Uusimaa (2.6 million cubic metres). The most forest industry by-products and wood residues were consumed in the region of South Karelia (1.5 million cubic metres). The consumption of forest chips was the highest in the region of Uusimaa (1.8 million cubic metres).

Small-scale burning of wood

• Small-scale burning – small-scale housing and farms – accounted for 6.9 million solid cubic metres 
• 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.
• Information about the small-scale burning of wood is based on a sampling survey for the 2016/2017 heating season.

The data presented herein are preliminary. The data can be specified at dates to be announced later. Final data on the use of wood in energy generation will be published in autumn 2024 according to Luke’s publication calendar for statistics. 

For the 2023 statistical survey, the classification of raw materials of forest chips has been specified. As a result, the classification of raw materials of forest chips for the categories of small-diameter trees and large-sized roundwood is not fully comparable with the previous year. For more information, see the quality report for the statistics.

The data of heating and power plants have been revised on June 7th, 2024. As a result, consumption of solid wood fuels increased by 0.1 million cubic metres compared to previously published figures.