HELSINKI, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Renewable energy accounted for 43 percent of Finland's total consumption in 2024, up more than one percentage point from the previous year, as output from wind and solar power continued to rise, Statistics Finland said Tuesday.

The country's total consumption of renewable energy rose by 2 percent year on year, while total energy consumption fell by 1 percent to 1.30 million terajoules, according to a report issued by the statistical agency.

The increase in the renewables share was largely driven by strong growth in wind and solar power. Wind power output surged 40 percent, becoming Finland's second-largest source of electricity after nuclear power, while solar power production increased by 31 percent.

Nuclear power production fell by five percent from its record level in 2023 and accounted for 26 percent of total energy consumption. Hydropower generation declined by six percent year on year.

Meanwhile, the use of fuels continued to decrease, falling by 3 percent year on year in 2024. This was mainly due to a four percent drop in fossil fuels and peat, Statistics Finland said.

Lower fossil fuel and peat use also reduced energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, which were down six percent from 2023, the agency noted.

Statistics Finland added that as much as 95 percent of electricity generated domestically in 2024 was fossil-free, while district heating production continued to become cleaner.

The Finnish government announced that the country's use of coal in energy production ended in spring 2025, following the closure of the last coal-fired power plants operated by energy firms Helen and Vantaan Energia.

The closures came four years ahead of Finland's legislative deadline to phase out coal by May 2029.

Finland's Climate Change Act, which entered into force in 2022, commits the country to achieving carbon neutrality by 2035, with intermediate emission-reduction targets for 2030, 2040, and 2050. Enditem