Europe is one step closer to phasing out coal: In Finland, the last remaining large coal-fired power plant has been taken off the grid. As the energy company Helen (formerly Helsingin Energia) told Reuters, this heralds "the end of the coal era" for the Scandinavian country.

The annual CO2 emissions of the company and the capital Helsinki are expected to fall massively as a result of the closure.

The Helen power plant is located in the centre of Helsinki and produced electricity for the capital until recently. "Phasing out coal is a concrete step on the way to clean, self-sufficient and affordable energy production through Helen," explains CEO Olli Sirkka.

Of course, it is not possible to say that not a single gram of coal will be burned in Finland, "because there are various solutions to the crisis situation, but this is indeed the last coal-fired power plant in Finland that is in daily operation," says Sirkka.

Significant CO2 reduction throughout Finland

According to the energy company's own figures, emissions this year are likely to be 50 per cent lower than last year. The closure of the power plant will reduce Helsinki's CO2 emissions by 30 per cent. Nationwide, emissions are expected to fall by two per cent.

The power plant itself is owned by the Finnish capital. "It is perhaps necessary to admit that a clean transition does not come cheap. It is indeed a value decision that we have made both as a company and as Helen," explains CEO Sirkka.

Finland has set itself an ambitious phase-out target

As recently as 2022, Helen (copyright press photo) relied increasingly on coal: At that time, 64 per cent of district heating production came from burning the raw material. Now only a coal reserve is to be kept for "emergencies".

However, some companies in Finland continue to use small quantities of coal to generate energy. The coal phase-out in Finland is set by law for 1 May 2029.