District heating network
Helsinki’s district heating network covers almost the entire city. Over 1,230 kilometres of district heating pipes criss-cross underground, covering a distance exceeding that between Helsinki and the town of Ivalo in northern Finland. The longest continuous district heating tunnel in Europe is some 30 kilometres long and transmits district heat produced by the Vuosaari power plant to the central city area. Over 20 kilometres of new district heating network is built each year and the existing network is repaired as needed.
The loop structure ensures heat supply
The heating network in Helsinki has been built in a loop form so that heat can be delivered to the customer using an alternative route, if needed. This shortens interruptions in the supply of hot water in fault situations.
The security of district heat supply in Helsinki is excellent. The average interruption during a year calculated per consumer is less than three hours. Most heat distribution interruptions in Helsinki are planned maintenance interruptions.
The operation of the district heating network in Helsinki is monitored 24 hours a day, which allows prompt and efficient repair of all district heat leaks. For information about the reasons for and duration of heat supply interruptions our customers can contact our district heating fault-clearing service.
District heating water is green
Since the early 1990s, the district heating water in Helsinki has been coloured green using a non-toxic colouring agent. Colouring helps to distinguish between district heating pipe and water pipe leakages, which, in turn, speeds up the repair of leakage faults. Additional security for the city’s heat distribution is provided by numerous points of heat supply in different parts of the city and by a cooperation agreement on district heating with the energy companies of the cities of Vantaa and Espoo.