Finland's commitment to phase out coal by May 2029 is expected to raise the demand for alternative fuels, especially biomass. Coal currently represents 20% of the energy used for household heating and around 15% of the power mix. Biomass could represent as much as 60% of the country's fuel mix at the combined heat and power (CHP) plants in 2030, twice the current amount.
Finland could then require 64 TWh worth of biomass in 2030 (+70% from the current 38 TWh), but local biomass supply is expected to grow only by 8 TWh by 2030; the country has a limited tree harvest quota, which is mostly reserved for the pulp and paper industry. The supply gap will likely be filled by biomass imports.
Finland's energy target to 2030 (approved in 2016) includes increasing the share of renewables in its total energy mix to over 50%, reducing the use of imported oil, raising energy self-sufficiency to over 55% and phasing out coal. The Energy and Climate Roadmap 2050 (2014) aims to turn Finland into a carbon-neutral country in 2050 and to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% by this date (compared to the 1990 level).