Energy operator Helen Oy has confirmed the permanent closure of the Salmisaari thermal power plant, located in Helsinki, bringing an end to the industrial use of coal for electricity generation in Finland. The announcement was made on 1 April, marking an operational shift for the group, whose coal facilities accounted for nearly two-thirds of its urban heating network production in 2022.
According to data released by the company, the move will reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by 50% compared to 2024 levels. Across the Helsinki region, total emissions are expected to fall by 30%, while Finland’s national emissions will decrease by 2%. The company now projects that its total emissions in 2025 will account for only 20% of its carbon footprint recorded in 1990.
Internal transition and industrial adaptation
The Salmisaari plant provided both electricity and heat, through an urban network primarily fuelled by coal shipped to Helsinki by sea. Although the facility is now decommissioned, a strategic reserve of coal will be maintained solely for emergency use, Helen stated in its press release.
Chief Executive Officer Olli Sirkka described the closure as a “significant step” in the operator’s energy transition. The Finnish group aims to enhance its autonomy in managing production while maintaining a target of cost competitiveness.
Regulatory framework and national outlook
The closure decision aligns with Finland’s legislative ban on coal for energy production, set to take effect on 1 May 2029. This regulatory milestone is pushing the entire energy sector to accelerate the restructuring of generation capacity and to integrate new low-carbon technologies.
Helen Oy was among the last operators to maintain coal-fired activity on Finnish territory. With this closure, the company is reshaping its energy portfolio amid a context where emissions reduction has become a key compliance requirement for energy providers in Northern Europe.
