“The operations of the Salmisaari coal power plant have ended as of 1 April 2025. Abolishing the use of coal is a significant milestone for Helsinki on its journey towards carbon neutrality. The closure of the power plant will reduce Helsinki’s carbon dioxide emissions by 30% compared to the previous year, and it practically also marks the end of coal burning in Finland as a whole.”
Helsinki aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, two decades ahead of the EU target. The shift away from fossil fuels is key to this strategy, with Helen Ltd, the municipal energy provider, leading the transition. The closure of Salmisaari follows the decommissioning of Hanasaari B in 2023, marking a rapid shift from coal-based energy production.
“The closing of the coal-fired energy plants is an important and historical change for Helsinki, Finland and, ultimately, the whole planet. Cities the world over have assumed a leading role in the fight against climate change. Helsinki wants to be a bold forerunner, on both a national and global level. The fact that we have been able to resolutely move forward with our plans to shut down coal-fired power plants in our city is a strong indicator of our determinedness in this area,” says Juhana Vartiainen, Mayor of Helsinki.
Following the shutdown, Helen Ltd is diversifying its energy mix. Its investment in carbon-neutral solutions includes Europe’s largest electric boiler plant and the world’s largest heat pump. Future energy production will rely on electrified heating solutions using waste heat, electric boilers, energy storage, and sustainably sourced bioenergy. Electricity generation will primarily come from wind, nuclear, hydro, and solar power.
“With regard to Helsinki’s direct climate emissions, we have made particularly good progress towards our goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 in terms of heating and electricity consumption. Shutting down the operations of the Salmisaari coal power plant is a really important step and a much-needed major deed. However, our determined work towards emissions reductions will not stop here, as our objective is to be net zero by 2040, and from there on we will strive towards carbon negativity,” notes Anni Sinnemäki, Deputy Mayor of Helsinki.
Looking ahead, hydrogen presents significant opportunities for Helsinki’s energy transition. The 3H2 - Helsinki Hydrogen Hub, an initiative by Helen, aims to start green hydrogen production by 2026. Finland’s competitive advantages in the hydrogen sector include access to low-cost, clean electricity, a stable investment climate, and strong technological expertise. These factors position Helsinki as an emerging hub for sustainable energy innovation.
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