All boilers installed at Europe’s largest electric boiler plant
The fourth and final boiler has been installed at the 200‑megawatt electric boiler plant under construction in Hanasaari, Helsinki. Once completed, the facility will be the largest electric boiler plant in Europe. It is scheduled to be commissioned during the 2026–2027 heating season and will enable district heat production using electricity when power is plentiful and available at a low cost.
The installation of the fourth electric boiler at Hanasaari marks a significant milestone in the project, as all of the plant’s main equipment is now in place. The construction site will next move on to piping and electrical installations, followed by preparations for commissioning.
Electric boilers make heat production more flexible
The key advantage of electric boilers is their rapid controllability in response to the situation in the power system. Heat production can be increased when electricity is abundant or inexpensive, and reduced when electricity prices are high.
“Electric boilers can be ramped up to full capacity within minutes when electricity is affordable and readily available. This reduces the need for heat production based on combustion,” says Timo Aaltonen, Director in charge of Heating and Cooling at Helen.
The four 50‑megawatt electric boilers at the Hanasaari plant form a 200‑megawatt total capacity, capable of meeting the heating demand of an area equivalent in size to two Lauttasaari districts.
Thermal storage adds flexibility to the energy system
A 1,000‑megawatt‑hour thermal storage facility consisting of two units will be built next to the electric boiler plant. The storage enables heat to be stored when electricity is plentiful and later used to heat homes and buildings in Helsinki.
The combination of electric boilers and thermal storage increases flexibility between heat and electricity production, balances the energy system, and provides protection against energy price volatility.
The Hanasaari electric boiler plant is part of Helen’s goal to phase out combustion‑based energy production by 2040. In addition to electric boilers, Helen is investing in waste heat recovery and industrial‑scale heat pumps, and is also exploring the potential of small modular nuclear reactors.