Helsingin Energia - Annual Report 2008

Helsingin Energia received a considerable number of awards and special commendations in 2008.

Demolition of Hanasaari A power plant

In April, Helsingin Energia received an industrial heritage award from the Society for the Industrial Heritage, TICCIH-Finland. The reason for the society's decision was that Helsingin Energia has handled the demolition of the old Hanasaari A power plant in an exemplary way. According to the society, the documentation related to the power plant demolition was the most extensive ever performed in the termination of industrial operations in Finland.

Green Cloud environmental art installation

The Green Cloud art installation implemented in Salmisaari in February won a significant award in media art, Ars Electronica Golden Nica, in June. The award was given under the category of Hybrid Art.

Green Cloud (Nuage Vert) by the French art duo HeHe was projected into the steam cloud of the Salmisaari power plant every night for a week. A strong, green laser beam drew the shape of a steam cloud in the sky, with its shape and size constantly changing according to the electricity consumption in the Ruoholahti area.

Environmental education

On 11 November, the Uusimaa Regional Environment Centre gave the Uusimaa environmental award to the Sun and the Wind environmental education project. The themes of the award were energy and energy saving.

With Helsingin Energia contributing to the Sun and the Wind environmental education project, the schoolchildren of Latokartano comprehensive school have become acquainted with renewable energy production forms. They have learned, for example, about the solar electricity panels in residential houses in Viikki and visited the hydropower plant in Vanhankaupunginkoski and the Vuosaari natural gas-fired power plant.

Co-operation with the Military Sport Federation

The Finnish Military Sport Federation celebrated its 40-year anniversary at the General Headquarters on 13 November. On the occasion, Helsingin Energia was awarded for its excellent co-operation with the Federation. Helsingin Energia is one of eight companies acting in co-operation with the Federation.

Cogeneration

Helsingin Energia's eco-efficient cogeneration of electricity and district heat won the European Regional Champion Award in the Energy category of the European Parliament Committee of the Regions. The shortlisted candidates were selected by an expert panel of the European Parliament. The winners of various categories were selected with a member vote by the European Parliament's Committee of the Regions. The results of the competition were published in Brussels on 19 November.

According to the rationale for the Regional Champion Award, Helsingin Energia is a unique and the leading expert cogeneration and energy efficiency.

In addition to electricity and district heat, Helsingin Energia uses the same technology to produce district cooling in an exemplary manner: Helsingin Energia's model has been accepted as a Best Available Technology (BAT) by the EU. In the summer, unused district heat from power generation, which would otherwise be led to the sea, is utilised in district cooling.

Cogeneration also received recognition in the country-specific report of the International Energy Agency IEA. According to the report, Finland is a world leader in combined heat and power generation, with high levels of development in district heating and versatile use of fuels. IEA gave Finland the highest possible score. Helsingin Energia was used as a case study in the country-specific report because of its eco-efficiency.

Green Fingerprint campaign

In early December, Motiva Oy awarded the best campaigns and implementations during the Energy Awareness Week (6-12 October). Helsingin Energia was acknowledged for its Green Fingerprint campaign, which encouraged people to make energy-saving pledges and promoted the company's online energy advisory services at www.energianeuvoja.fi. More than 15,000 energy pledges were made in connection with the campaign.