Pellet handling system to be built at the Salmisaari power plant
Construction work for the launch of pellet combustion will start at the Salmisaari power plant area. For example, two silos of 1,000 cubic metres will be built in the area.
The silos and conveyors will be built in the middle of the power plant area so that they will blend in with the area’s architecture.
In addition to the silos, the rest of the necessary pellet handling equipment will be delivered to the site in the spring. The equipment includes, e.g. a reception building and conveyors.
With the modification work to be carried out at the Salmisaari power plant, it will be possible to start pellet combustion in addition to coal at the end of 2014, with pellets accounting for 5–7 per cent of the fuels. A similar system will also be built at the Hanasaari power plant at a later date. Once continuous co-firing of pellets starts, an average of 5–7 lorryloads of pellets will be delivered every day to both of the power plants.
Arrival of biofuels at the power plants is part of Helsingin Energia’s development programme
Increasing the use of pellets at the Hanasaari and Salmisaari power plants is part of Helsingin Energia’s development programme towards a carbon neutral future. In 2015, the City Council of Helsinki will decide whether the share will be raised to 40 per cent or whether a new power plant will be built in Vuosaari, using mainly wood chips as fuel.
The aim is to use more biofuels in energy production in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% from the 1990 level by the year 2020. Another target is to increase the share of renewable energy to 20% in Helsingin Energia’s energy supply.
Pellet combustion tests have been carried out at the Hanasaari power plant in 2012–2013. Tests will be continued with different pellet grades in spring 2014.