District Energy in Finland

Finland is the world's leader in the use of combined heat and power (CHP or cogeneration), which is applied widely for the heating of communities and use of waste fuels from industrial processes. Overall, CHP saves 6% of all primary energy used in the country.

In 1993, 28% of electricity used in Finland was generated in CHP plants, with industrial plants producing 46% and district heating plants 54% of this total. District heating warms 44% of the buildings in Finland, and 72% of district heat was produced by CHP in 1993.

District energy statistics (1993)

• District heating companies - 132
• CHP plants - 71
• Heating plants - 923
• Maximum heat output capacity - 16,3 GW
• Heat delivered to pipelines - 89,6 PJ
• Heat sold to consumers - 84,9 PJ
• Total length of pipeline system - 7 000 km
• Heat delivered/pipeline length - 13 TJ/km

District energy systems

• Helsinki
• Tampere
• Joensuu Energy
• Vantaa
• Kerava
• Vaasa
• Lahti

District Energy Vendors

• Wärtsilä Diesel Int. Ltd
• ABB Installaatiot Oy/R&D

District Energy Library

District Energy Association

Heikki Koivistro
Lämpölaitosyhdistys ry
[Finnish District Heating Association]
Fredrikinkatu 61
FIN-00100 Helsinki
Tel +358 9 686 6730
Fax +358 9 685 2533

Send corrections, additions, comments to Morris A. Pierce

Last updated 3 November 1997