HelenPower
The share of eco-efficient cogeneration grew
The turnover of HelenPower was EUR 80 million, consisting almost entirely of internal service sales. The result of the financial year remained slightly under the zero result set as a target, which was due to the higher-than-forecast power plant maintenance costs.
HelenPower generated a total of 5,360 GWh of electricity, i.e. approx. 4% less than the previous year. Of this amount, the environmentally friendly and cost-efficient combined heat and power generation amounted to approx. 5,190 GWh. The rest of the electricity generated was condensate electricity. The proportion of eco-efficient CHP electricity of total electricity generation increased to 97%. The proportion of CHP heat of total district heat generation increased as well, to 93%, or approx. 6,130 GWh.
The amount of CHP heat decreased slightly form the previous year, due to the particularly warm weather. In spite of this, the amount of CHP electricity increased somewhat on the year before, owing to more gas-intensive generation than the previous year. The production of condensate electricity decreased from the year before.
The proportion of natural gas of the total amount of fuel used increased and was clearly more than half of the fuel used during the year.
Several investment projects in the Hanasaari area
The project plan for the Hanasaari area, approved by the Helsinki City Council, covers the demolition of the Hanasaari A power plant, releasing the current open coal storage area for other use, and implementing replacement coal logistics.
The coal storage capacity required by the Hanasaari B power plant will be implemented by a combination of buffer silos that will be architecturally suitable for the area, to be constructed in the immediate vicinity of the power plant, and commercial storage areas to be located outside the area.
The demolition project on the Hanasaari A power plant was completed on schedule at the end of the review year, and the costs were lower than forecast. Environmental damage was minimised and the demolition masses were sorted and delivered for recovery almost in their entirety. The feasibility and location planning of other sub-projects, such as coal silos and the fuel harbour, progressed well.
Another significant investment project of HelenPower was the modernisation of the turbine of the second machine of the Hanasaari power plant, aimed at increasing the efficiency of electricity generation. Furthermore, the combustion of crushed logging waste was tested, and the results of the test will be analysed during the first months of 2009.
The temperature of coal rose in one of the silos of the Salmisaari underground coal store in the autumn of the review year. The warming was caused by air that had leaked into the silo, and coal began to smoulder in a small area beside the leak. To extinguish the smouldering fire in coal, nitrogen was fed into the silo by means of a system constructed for this purpose. The situation was handled according to our operational procedures, the gas contents were carefully measured, and the smouldering coal did not endanger the environment.
Changes in the organisation and operating model
HelenPower introduced the changes in the organisation and operating model that had been agreed on at the end of the previous year. HelenPower comprises the Hanasaari, Salmisaari and Vuosaari power plants as well as the Production Support Services. The remit of HelenPower is to refine the fuel it uses into electricity and heat in as cost- and eco-efficient a manner as possible. It also manages its power plant assets and ensures their development.
Tightening emission standards and changes in urban structure pose challenges
Among the biggest future challenges of HelenPower are the tightening emission standards and preparing for the use of renewable fuels. Our equipment is constantly developed to be more environmentally friendly and several projects related to low-emission technology are being planned.
The tightening urban structure continues to pose challenges to power plant operation. It is essential that the power supply areas and their distribution networks remain a functional part of urban structure so that eco-efficient city energy can be co-generated in Helsinki also in the future. The future challenges, along with the utilisation of renewable energy sources, also increase the space requirements for energy production. Therefore, the alteration work must be based on careful planning and carried out so that the power supply requirements are taken into account.
HelenPower is responsible for power and heat generation at Helsingin Energia's own power plants in Salmisaari, Hanasaari and Vuosaari. HelenPower had 193 employees at the end of the year.
Electricity supply
District heat supply
