Our story

Throughout its existence, Pohjolan Voima has changed with society and the energy economy – often in the frontline. The change is ongoing.

We are a decisive power in building Finland’s competitive edge and creating wellbeing. We play an important role as Finland moves towards a low-carbon society.

As a major Finnish electricity and heat provider, we have been aiming for low-carbon energy production since the late 1990s, and this transition has been made step by step. In 2010, our goal for 90 per cent of our production to be CO2 neutral by 2015. In 2009, the share was 72%. At the end of 2022, we had already achieved 97%, but we won’t settle for that. The work goes on.

In the coming years, we will focus on increasing the flexible utilisation of our power plants and enhance our regulating capabilities. Digitalisation and knowledge-based management are some of the ways we aim to do this. Many digital pilots are currently underway, and they can help us further develop and enhance our energy production. By doing this, we can reduce our emissions even more.

Throughout its almost 80 years of existence, Pohjolan Voima has changed with society – often in the frontline. The change is ongoing.

How did we get here?

During Pohjolan Voima’s first 50 years, from the wartime to the 1980s, great changes occurred in society. There were

• reconstruction,
• heavy industrialisation and efforts to enable it,
• as well as an oil crisis that changed the way people thought about energy.

This period also included complex negotiations on building the industry’s own nuclear power plant.

The 1990s and 2000s were periods of rapid growth and internationalisation for Pohjolan Voima. Bioenergy and wind power solutions were studied and constructed, increasing the amount of CO2-neutral production and adjustments to the energy transition. For example, we built 16 biopower plants and developed innovative combustion technology. We were pioneers in developing wind power technology and offshore wind power across the northern regions.

In the 2010s, we have become an expert organisation and left the days of building new power plants behind. Instead, we specialise in efficient lifecycle management and the maintenance of power plants. We work in close cooperation with our shareholders and partner networks.

We focus on electricity production on an industrial scale. We have ceased wind power production. We have also stopped using condensing power and demolished power plants that used fossil fuels.

Migratory fish issues and the consideration of biodiversity in energy production have become significant factors. We collaborate with many parties to tackle fish issues, aquatic environment management and development, and better regulation. We currently have many long-term projects.

Pohjolan Voima in brief

1943
Critical energy shortage in Finland, because a significant part of electricity generation capacity has either been destroyed or have been lost to the Soviet Union in the Winter War. Finnish forest companies establish their own power company to meet their needs. Pohjolan Voima is established.

1948
The construction of the first power plant, the hydropower plant Isohaara on the Kemijoki river in Northern Finland, is completed.

1959–1971
Five hydropower plants (Pahkakoski, Haapakoski, Kierikki, Maalismaa and Raasakka) are built on another river in Northern Finland, on the Iijoki river.

1972
The construction of the first condensing power plant (Tahkoluoto in Pori) is completed.

1979
Olkiluoto, the first nuclear power plant is built.

1980
The second nuclear power plant is built.

1990–2016
Pohjolan Voima builds 16 biopower plants.

2000–2011
Pohjolan Voima develops wind power technology and builds wind turbines such as the world’s first offshore wind turbine in the pack-ice zone.

2001
The first multi-fuel plant is built.

2005
The construction of a third nuclear power plant starts.

2008–2013
Overhauls of the hydropower plants on the Iijoki river.

2011
Pohjolan Voima focuses on electricity production on an industrial scale and abandons wind power.

2014
The condensing power plant in Mussalo, Kotka is demolished.

2018
Pohjolan Voima celebrates its 75th anniversary.

2019
Ninety-four per cent of Pohjolan Voima’s electricity production is CO2 neutral.
Surveys to prepare for Finland’s first downstream migration route for migratory fish in the Iijoki river at Haapakoski.

2020
Two condensing power plants are demolished (in Kristiinankaupunki and in Tahkoluoto, Pori).