Extension of Vantaa Energy’s waste-to-energy plant will produce carbon-neutral heat also for Helsinki

Vantaa Energy is launching the expansion of its current waste-to-energy plant. Helsinki will be receiving more carbon-neutral district heat because a quarter of the heat produced in the extension of the Vantaa waste-to-energy plant will be directed into Helen’s network mainly during the summer. This means up to about 300 gigawatt-hours per year, corresponding to about four per cent of Helen’s heat procurement.  

The heat of the waste-to-energy plant will therefore supplement Helen’s production mix and support Helen’s target of carbon neutrality. Helen is also currently producing a significant amount of renewable district heat from excess heat, e.g. in the Katri Vala heating and cooling plant and the Salmisaari pellet-fired heating plant.  

“Helen has carried on heat sales with Vantaa Energy for a long time, and this new contract is a natural follow-up to strengthen this co-operation. By purchasing heat, Helen is replacing mainly coal production, cutting its emissions by about 60,000 tonnes a year. That way, our customers have an opportunity to receive even more renewable and emission-free heat,” says Helen’s director Harri Mattila.

How the expansion of the waste-to-energy plant will progress:

• Construction will begin in March 2020 with the preparation of the site and earth construction works.  
• Work on the foundation and the construction of the waste bunker will start in spring 2020. These are scheduled to be completed by early 2021.  
• The planning of the installation of main equipment is scheduled to start in spring 2021 and to be completed during 2021.  
• First fire of the new waste-to-energy boiler is expected to be ignited in spring 2022, and the commissioning of the extension of the waste-to-energy plant is scheduled for autumn 2022.