Finland’s Helen invests in district heating

Helsinki-based energy company Helen Oy is introducing a new tech heat pump plant and two electric boilers in the company’s production area in Patola for district heating.

The technologies comprising the two boilers and the industrial-scale air-to-water heat pump form the basis for a new district heating production facility in Patola, which is a northern-central suburb of Helsinki, Finland.

The air-to-water heat pump, based on a new, undisclosed technology, is stated the first of its kind in the world and has a capacity of between 22 to 33MW, depending on the outdoor temperature, while carbon dioxide is used as the natural refrigerant.

The two electric boilers have a combined heat production capacity of 100MW.

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“The air-to-water heat pump plant to be built will be the first of its size in the world, and one of its significant advantages is that it can be operated in outdoor temperatures as low as -20°C,” comments Juhani Aaltonen, VP, Green Investments at Helen.

“When completed, the heating plant complex will significantly reduce the CO2 emissions caused by heating in Helsinki and bring us closer to the carbon neutrality goal. In addition, the plant is likely to create price stability for customers, as its production is easily adjustable.”

The heat pump is designed to produce more than 200GWh and reduce 26,000t of CO2 emissions per year.

The electric boiler plant should produce about 300GWh and reduce emissions by 30,000t of CO2 per year.

The facility is planned to drive Helsinki’s heat production towards carbon neutrality and is being supported with a subsidy from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

Construction work should begin at the end of 2024 and it is planned that the plant should start production during the heating season of 2026–2027.

Flexible heat pilot in residential buildings

Earlier in 2024 Helen signed an agreement with Finnish property lessor Helsingin kaupungin asunnot Oy (Heka) on a pilot to increase the demand response potential of district heating.

Heating boilers and heat storage add flexibility to the heating system, but consumers also can play a significant role in balancing the consumption peaks of electrifying heat production.

The majority of residential buildings are occasionally overheated, which increases energy consumption with such overheating taking place particularly on sunny spring days.

Heating control systems will be installed in Heka’s residential buildings and Helen will integrate the properties into the energy system, which will adjust the temperature according to the indoor temperature changes for a maximum of half a degree in both directions to avoid affecting customers’ living comfort.

At the initial stage, the project will include 250 Heka properties, with the expected energy saving resulting in equalling the annual energy consumption of up to 15 apartment buildings.