Power-ups and power-downs in Finland

20 January 2010

Power consumption dropped 7% across Finland during 2009 as a result of the global recession, with industrial electricity use down 16% and industrial combined heat and power down 20.7%. However, 2009 was a record year for nuclear power, which reached 27.8% of supply. It was also a record year for electricity imports, which stood at 15.3%. The most expensive days for power saw prices of Eur1000 ($1400) per MWh, which Finnish Energy Industries managing director Juha Naukkarinen said indicates the need for new generation capacity according. One significant addition would be the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power reactor, meant to begin operation in 2009 but now expected in 2011 or 2012. Three other new reactor proposals are currently in government hands.