Solar electricity production capacity grew by 45% in 2020 - nearly 300 megawatts in small-scale production
The small-scale production of solar electricity has been growing quickly in recent years. Installed capacity has increased more than tenfold since 2016. At the end of 2020, approximately 293 megawatts of solar electricity production capacity was connected to the electricity network. According to preliminary data, the capacity grew by 91 megawatts that year.
Solar electricity accounted for about 1.6% of the capacity of network-connected electricity production at the end of 2020, which was equivalent to 0.4% of all electricity production in Finland. However, in individual hours in the summer of 2020, the share of solar electricity was up to 4% of instantaneous total production.* Solar electricity production connected to the network is almost entirely composed of small-scale production plants of under 1 megawatt (MW).
The preliminary figures for 2020 are based on data collected from distribution network operators by the Energy Authority.
Network-connected small-scale production capacity of solar electricity (MW)
At the end of last year, the total capacity of network-connected small-scale production of electricity (units under 1 MW) was approximately 364 MW. The total capacity of network-connected small-scale production of electricity grew by 30% in 2020. Small-scale production of electricity accounts for a little over 2% of the electricity production capacity in Finland.
Network-connected small-scale production of electricity (units under 1 MW) by production method at the end of 2019 and 2020
| Production method | Nominal output MW* 31.12.2020 |
Nominal output MW 31.12.2019 |
Change % |
| Sun | 288 | 197 | +46 % |
| Wind | 12 | 14 | -18 % |
| Bio | 12 | 13 | -11 % |
| Water | 28 | 29 | -5 % |
| Diesel | 22 | 23 | -1 % |
| Other | 1 | 2 | -42 % |
| Total | 364 | 278 | +30 % |
Solar electricity plants of over 1 MW were reported to the Energy Authority for a total of 4.6 MW. Furthermore, it is estimated that there is, in total, a little over 20 MW of solar electricity capacity not connected to the electricity network, which is instead installed in more than 50 000 detached houses, especially holiday homes.
The total capacity of network-connected electricity production in Finland is over 17 800 MW. The data on larger power plants (units over 1 MW) can be found in the Energy Authority’s Power Plant Register.
Every year, the Energy Authority collects data on the capacity of small-scale production connected to the electricity network in Finland from the distribution network operators (the situation at the end of the previous year, units under 1 MW). Production capacity is divided according to production method: solar, wind, bio, water, diesel and others. The estimation of solar electricity production capacity not connected to the electricity network is based on materials on heating energy of detached houses by the Natural Resources Institute Finland and Statistics Finland.
The data on network-connected small-scale production of electricity provided by each distribution network operator are published in early autumn, once the data reported by the operators are verified.
For further information, please contact:
- Specialist Henri Hämäläinen, +358 29 5050 145
- Senior Adviser Mervi Suni, +358 29 5050 122
[email protected]
*Finnish Energy
