Pohjolan Voima and Helsinki Energy to start a technical and commercial feasibility study for a large new-age multi-fuel power plant

The purpose of the study is to establish the technical prerequisites, competitiveness and environmental impacts of large, 500-700 MW multi-fuel power plant based on the latest technology. The study will also yield a model for the recovery and storage of carbon dioxide. Once built, the investment will cover the increasing need for energy and replace power plants that are becoming obsolete techno-economically or owing to the increasing environmental and emission trade obligations during 2015-2020. The new technology may be utilised both in condensing power production and combined power and heat production.  

We want to find the best available options for the technology solution of the plant. The efficiency would be markedly higher than that of the present condensing power plants, and the emission levels would be further lowered. The possibilities to recover and store carbon dioxide will be surveyed and their application is anticipated.

By harnessing the latest technology solutions world-wide and by combining them with Finnish special expertise it will be possible to create the preconditions for a progressive second-generation power plant solution. Along with fossil fuels - coal and gas - we plan to use peat, other biomasses and energy waste.  The share of renewable energy will be maximised. 

More partners and public funding are being sought for the study. It will be carried out in co-operation with suppliers and research institutions. According to the planned schedule the first power plant based on the new concept would become operational in Southern Finland in 2015.

In order to secure adequate self-sufficiency in Finnish electricity production we must, in addition to the projects presently under construction, build about 5000 MW of new capacity by 2020. The mere increase of nuclear power and bioenergy is not enough, and other power plant solutions will be needed. For reasons of security of supply and to ensure competition between different production forms, Finland must, also in future, be prepared to utilise fossil fuels. With the help of new technology the environmental compatibility of energy production can be improved and emissions reduced.

As for self-sufficiency of electricity production, during the last 16 years Finland has shifted from a surplus of 20% into a deficit of almost 20%. In the winter of 1991 the peak load capacity in electricity consumption in Finland was 10 270 MW and domestic production capacity available was 12 400 MW. The then reserve capacity arrangement ensured the security of supply of electricity in unforeseen situations. This winter the peak load rose to nearly 15 000 MW, of which 12 000 MW could be covered by domestic production. The imports accounted for over 19%.