Finland needs natural gas

Natural gas accounts for around 11% of Finland's total consumption of primary energy. The natural gas transmission network covers the southeastern and southern parts of the country. In this area the share of natural gas used as a fuel in heat and electricity generation is around 30%.

At the annual level the consumption of natural gas is divided into two segments that are almost equal in size: district heat production and related electricity generation (CHP), and industrial use of natural gas. The use of natural gas in separate condensing power production of electricity depends on the current electricity market situation, with the share varying from one to a few per cent.

Electricity and heat generated efficiently

Natural gas is particularly suitable for use as a fuel for combined heat and power (CHP) production. Natural gas-fuelled CHP plants have a high overall efficiency and a considerably higher power-to-heat ratio than conventional power plants, which means they generate a large amount of electricity in relation to the heat produced. Smaller CHP plants can also utilise gas engines. The use of natural gas in CHP in Finland is at a top level in international comparison.

Natural gas is versatile

The diverse properties of natural gas come into their own particularly well in a variety of process applications: products being manufactured can safely come in contact with a natural gas flame or clean flue gases in contexts such as heating, drying or cooking. Natural gas can also be used instead of electricity in many processes. Considerable amounts of natural gas are also used as an industrial raw material, such as in the manufacture of hydrogen. To read more about the properties of natural gas see Products - Natural gas on our website.

Household consumption of natural gas focused on Helsinki

There are around 30,000 households and more than 300 restaurants using natural gas-fuelled kitchen stoves in Helsinki. The number of residential buildings directly heated with natural gas is still fairly small but increasing steadily. More than 4,000 houses, around 1,000 larger residential buildings and 1,000 business properties are already connected to the natural gas network around Finland.

New potential in transport use

The latest proof of the versatility of natural gas is its use in transport. Natural gas has been gradually introduced as fuel for buses operating in the central areas of Helsinki, and the number of natural gas vehicles is also increasing rapidly as filling station network is expanding.