FINNISH ENERGY SOURCES

Source	Share of the total energy consumption
Wood fuels	27 %
Oil	24 %
Nuclear power	18 %
Coal	8 %
Water power	5 %
Exported electricity	5 %
Natural gas	5 %
Peat	4 %
Other (wind, solar, etc.)	5 %

Everything we do requires energy. We live in houses with artificial heating and lighting, we move from place to place, we produce goods and we consume them. Energy consumption is impossible to avoid, and this energy must be gathered from some source. 

Like natural resources, energy sources can be divided into two broad groups depending on whether or not they are renewable. The supplies of non-renewable energy sources are limited, and they will run out the more we use them. Non-renewable energy sources include all fossil fuels: crude oil, natural gas, coal and shale gas. Nuclear power produces energy from radioactive uranium, which is a metallic element and therefore also a non-renewable energy source.

Renewable energy sources include solar power, water power and wind power. Various forms of biomass, such as wood, are also renewable energy sources. The advantage of these energy sources is that they will always renew themselves. Most renewable energy sources originally gain their energy from the Sun. 

THE USES OF FINNISH ENERGY

Use	Share of the total energy consumption
Industry	47 %
Heating	25 %
Traffic	16 %
Other	12 %

On a global scale, the Finnish energy consumption per capita is quite high. One of the reasons for this is the nation's northern location, which results in long, dark and cold winters. This means that a lot of energy is needed for heating and lighting. Another reason for the high energy consumption is the nation's large size, which results in long distances between population centers. Because of this, the transport of goods and people consumes more energy than it does in more densely populated nations. Finland's high standard of living also has an effect on the nation's energy consumption. Finns live in large houses and consume plenty of products and services.

However, the largest source of Finnish energy consumption is industry. Industrial production is responsible for approximately half of the planet's total energy consumption. The refining of metals and the production of goods such as paper are examples of industrial processes that consume large amounts of energy.