Finnish company KPA Unicon to supply biomass heat plant to local town
Finnish renewable energy company KPA Unicon will supply a biomass plant for Kemin Energia ja Vesi Oy, a local utility firm in the town of Kemi, Finland.
The new woodchip-fed facility will provide district heating for the area and will serve as the main heating plant together with an existing power plant during summer and winter. Although local woodchips will be the main feedstock for the plant, other wood-based biomasses are also being considered.
The plant, which is already under construction, will include equipment for solid fuel handling, a Biograte 18 MW boiler, electric and automation systems, flue gas cleaning and heat recovery systems and installation and commissioning. The operating efficiency of the new plant will be increased through the installation of a 5 MW flue gas cleaning system that recovers extra heat energy from the flue gas. The two companies signed a two-year maintenance agreement, allowing KPA Unicon to deal with maintenance and Kemin to focus on its customers.
“During contract negotiations, we were impressed by KPA Unicon’s expertise, domestic concept and good references,” said Anne Salo-oja, CEO of Kemin Energia ja Vesi Oy. “When the new heating plant is completed, the carbon dioxide emissions of our heat production will be reduced to one-third of the current level, due to replacement of peat with wood fuels.
“Our financier also appreciated the energy efficiency and positive environmental impact of our project, as we received a loan for the heating plant as green financing.”
Jukka-Pekka Kovanen, CEO of KPA Unicon, added: “It is an honour to be able to implement Kemi’s new clean energy solution using local fuels. We are also delighted of the maintenance agreement.”
The new woodchip-fed facility will provide district heating for the area and will serve as the main heating plant together with an existing power plant during summer and winter. Although local woodchips will be the main feedstock for the plant, other wood-based biomasses are also being considered.
The plant, which is already under construction, will include equipment for solid fuel handling, a Biograte 18 MW boiler, electric and automation systems, flue gas cleaning and heat recovery systems and installation and commissioning. The operating efficiency of the new plant will be increased through the installation of a 5 MW flue gas cleaning system that recovers extra heat energy from the flue gas. The two companies signed a two-year maintenance agreement, allowing KPA Unicon to deal with maintenance and Kemin to focus on its customers.
“During contract negotiations, we were impressed by KPA Unicon’s expertise, domestic concept and good references,” said Anne Salo-oja, CEO of Kemin Energia ja Vesi Oy. “When the new heating plant is completed, the carbon dioxide emissions of our heat production will be reduced to one-third of the current level, due to replacement of peat with wood fuels.
“Our financier also appreciated the energy efficiency and positive environmental impact of our project, as we received a loan for the heating plant as green financing.”
Jukka-Pekka Kovanen, CEO of KPA Unicon, added: “It is an honour to be able to implement Kemi’s new clean energy solution using local fuels. We are also delighted of the maintenance agreement.”
