What is solar energy used for in Finland?

Solar energy in Finland is used primarily for water heating and by the use of photovoltaics to generate electricity. As a northern country, summer days are long and winter days are short. Above the Arctic Circle, the sun does not rise some days in winter, and does not set some days in the summer.

How many solar panels are installed in Finland?

Finland's production capacity is 16 000 m 2 /a. New installations were: 2 380 m 2 (2006), 1 668 m 2 (2005) and 1 141 m 2 (2004). There are growth opportunities in the solar heating. In 2018 S-Ryhmä decided to order solar panels for 40 of its commercial real estate buildings. This is the biggest solar panel project in Finnish history.

Does Finland have a solar heating system?

Thus, Finland has installed 10% of its objective in 11 years time (1995–2010). The solar heating has not been competitive due to cheap alternatives (electricity, fuel oil and district heating) and the lack of support systems. Companies and public organizations may receive 40% investment subsidies, but private houses do not receive subsidies yet.

How much solar energy does Finland produce a year?

Areas with the most favorable conditions can produce roughly twice the solar electricity that Finland does. In the best areas, the total radiant energy is about 2500 kWh per square meter a year. In Finland, the corresponding figure is approximately 900 kWh per square meter – slightly more in the most southern parts and slightly less up north.

Is solar energy a viable alternative to self-consumption in Finland?

In Finland, solar electricity has so far been a financially competitive alternative only if the self-consumption rate has been high. Now, however, the situation is changing, as solar farms are being built to produce electricity to sell directly to the main grid. Globally speaking, solar energy generation is a massive business.

What is the most powerful photovoltaic solar plant in Finland?

In 2015, the Kaleva Media printing plant in Oulu became the most powerful photovoltaic solar plant in Finland, with 1,604 solar photovoltaic (PV) units on its roof. Although the city of Oulu, located near the Arctic Circle, has only two hours of weak sunlight in December, the photovoltaic cells work almost around the clock in the summer.