The greenhouse energy consumption data for 2008 has been completed. According to data collected by Tike (The Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry), the energy consumption of greenhouses increased slightly compared with 2006, when statistics were last collected. Less imported energy is used for heating and the use of domestic energy has grown since 2006.

Greenhouse energy consumption in 2008 totalled 1 795 553 megawatt hours (MWh). A decline was seen in the use of both fuel oil and coal, but electricity consumption increased by 32 481 MWh to 476 044 MWh. District heating was up 22 362 MWh to 132 843 MWh. Although on the whole the use of wood declined slightly, more fuel chips were utilised. The share of the total accounted for by peat-based fuels rose substantially, overtaking coal and anthracite.

Energy prices give pause for thought, making enterprises lean in favour of domestic options
Greenhouse enterprises most often use numerous forms of energy: electricity for artificial lighting, chips for heating, and an oil burner as a backup heat source. Light fuel is the most common single source of energy, but due to its high price it is rarely the primary option. On the other hand, large greenhouse enterprises have traditionally used heavy fuel oil, coal and anthracite for energy, and in the past few years they have sought domestic replacements, spurred by the dramatic rise in energy prices.

In recent years, a growing number of solid fuel plants have been built for incinerating domestic biofuels such as peat, wood, grain, reed canary grass and waste wood from the wood processing industry. That said, solid fuel plants are expensive to build and individual incinerators are not designed to handle every kind of fuel. The 2008 data shows that the share accounted for by peat-based fuels rose substantially compared with 2006, and peat in fact overtook coal, anthracite and fuel oil. The use of fuel chips also increased on 2006.

Artificial lighting increases electricity consumption
Last year, the enterprises that responded to the survey consumed 476 044 MWh of electricity, a slight increase compared with 2006. Electricity consumption has risen due to the greater area under artificial light, growth in lighting power and the lengthening of the cultivation season. In fact, electricity accounts for the largest share of the energy consumed by greenhouses. Of the 278 hectares used for greenhouse vegetable production, 68 hectares were under cultivation for more than seven months. Most of this area was lighted. Almost all enterprises that engage in the cultivation of potted vegetables employ artificial lighting. This is also generally the case in tomato and cucumber production. Artificial lighting is also used in the cultivation of ornamental plants. Some of the waste heat generated by artificial lighting can be utilised in the heating of greenhouses.

Background to the statistics
The data on greenhouse energy consumption is based on the Horticultural Enterprise Register. Data for the Register is collected once a year from all enterprises that cultivate horticultural products for sale. Greenhouse energy consumption is surveyed every other year. Enterprises with over 1 000 m2 of heated greenhouse area are included in the survey. In 2008, such enterprises numbered 1 022, of which 913 (89%) responded to the energy survey. Energy consumption data will also be published in the 2008 Horticultural Enterprise Register, which will be released in June. Publications from previous years can be downloaded from the Matilda information service, www.matilda.fi

For additional information
Anna-Kaisa Jaakkonen, tel. +358 20 77 21 374
E-mail addresses are in the format forename.surname@mmmtike.fi