Helsingin Energia and Vapo agree on Finland's largest pellet deliveries

Helsingin Energia and Vapo have agreed on wood pellet deliveries to the Salmisaari and Hanasaari combined heat and power (CHP) plants.

Under the agreement, Helsingin's Salmisaari coal-fired power plant will begin co-firing wood pellets with a ratio of 5-7% by the end of this year. And at the company's Hanasaari power plant, pellets will be co-fired with the same percentage once the pellet equipment has been installed next year.

'The mixture ratio of pellets is based on thorough pellet combustion tests carried out at the power plants,' Helsingin said in a statement.

Vapo's regional director Jan-Juhani Laitinen comments: 'This contract is significant. Once the deliveries are in full swing, Helsingin Energia will be our largest fuel customer using pellets. The employment effect of the contract is about 50 years throughout the production and delivery chain. Our production capacity in Finland will be able to meet growing demand.'

Increasing the use of pellets at its two power plants is part of Helsingin's aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% on the 11990 level and to increase the share of renewable energy to 20% by 2020.