Finland sends the EU-required National Energy and Climate Plan to the Commission

Finland has submitted an update of its National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) to the European Commission on 28 June 2024. The plan includes the national targets and policy measures decided so far to achieve the EU’s 2030 energy and climate targets.

It outlines the impact of the confirmed policy measures on the projected development of greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy and energy efficiency until 2040. The plan also describes the impacts of the policy measures on the energy system, greenhouse gas emissions and removals caused by carbon sinks. 

Moreover, the plan assesses the impact of the planned and existing policy measures on future investment needs considering the effects of the EU’s Fit for 55 package (Fit for 55) and the REPowerEU Plan that raise the ambition of the EU’s climate and energy policy and speed up the clean energy transition. 

The updated plan covers all five dimensions of the EU Energy Union: 

• decarbonisation (incl. renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions and removals) 
• energy efficiency
• energy security 
• internal energy market
• research, innovation and competitiveness

The EU has set Finland an obligation to reduce those greenhouse gas emissions that are not part of the emissions trading system by 50% from the 2005 level by 2030. At the same time, emissions from the land use sector should be smaller than the calculated removals by carbon sinks.

Finland’s target is to increase the share of renewable energy sources to at least 62 per cent of the total final energy consumption. The proportion of renewable energy in Finland’s energy production has grown in recent times, and this trend seems to continue. The target has been raised from the previous target of 51 per cent, which was included in the National Energy and Climate Plan of 2019. 

As concerns energy efficiency, the plan states that, in accordance with the requirements of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive, the final energy consumption will not exceed 239.6 TWh and the primary energy consumption will not exceed 346.3 TWh in 2030. 

Finland’s National Energy and Climate Strategy will be completed in spring 2025. At that time, the Government will publish its new measures necessary to achieve the objectives, including detailed estimates of their impacts on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Commission uses the plans to monitor achievement of the 2030 targets

The Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union requires that all Member States submit their updated plans to the Commission by 30 June 2024. The first NECPs were submitted to the Commission in 2019. 

Their purpose is to help Member States achieve the EU’s energy and climate objectives and ensure that the Union moves towards a cleaner, more sustainable and resource-efficient energy system through investments. The NECPs outline how the EU Member States intend to achieve the EU’s energy and climate targets for 2030. 

Inquiries: 
Petteri Kuuva, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 064 819
Markku Kinnunen, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 064 792 
Bettina Lemström, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 506 4116
Petri Hirvonen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 048