Operated by Helsinki-owned energy group Helen, the 177 MW plant ended operations on 1 April. This closure follows the shutdown of the Hanasaari B power plant in 2023, bringing a virtual end to coal burning across Finland.  

Together with Salmisaari, Finland’s two remaining coal-burning plants – Vaskiluoto 2 and Martinlaakso 2 – contributed just 0.8% of the country’s electricity in 2024, with coal-fired generation falling by 73% in Finland since 2020.

The closure of Salmisaari and Hanasaari B is expected to reduce Helsinki’s emissions by 43% and cut Finland’s national CO₂ emissions by 5%.  

Helsinki hopes to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, 20 years ahead of the EU’s target. Juhana Vartiainen, Mayor of Helsinki, says the city wants to be ‘a bold forerunner, on both a national and global level’ in the fight against climate change. ‘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,’ he says.  

In 2022, coal still accounted for 64% of Helen’s district heat production. Helsinki’s heating and electricity will now come from electrified systems using heat pumps, electric boilers, sustainable bioenergy and renewable sources like wind, solar and hydropower.

Helen has invested in large-scale infrastructure including Europe’s largest electric boiler and the world’s biggest heat pump to ensure energy supply without fossil fuels.

Helsinki is also exploring green hydrogen with the 3H2 – Helsinki Hydrogen Hub pilot project aiming to begin hydrogen production by 2026.