Lahti Energy

LAHTI ENERGY

Nordic ENERGY Providing sustainable district heating in Finland, we speak to Jouni Haikarainen, CEO of Lahti Energy, about the company’s progressively green mission for carbon neutrality Writer: Marcus Kääpä Project Manager: Nicholas Kernan

E

urope is a leading continental player in the global sustainability sphere.

From cities such as Copenhagen (Denmark), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Stockholm (Sweden), Helsinki (Finland), Berlin (Germany) and Vienna (Austria), that are each some of the most sustainable destinations in the world, to industry developments such as green steel, promoting environmentally friendly practices is at the forefront of European development.

Finland stands out as one country that is a key promoter of such practices.

As well as having been deemed the happiest nation in the world, its city of Lahti has also been awarded as Europe’s Green Capital 2021.

Lahti not only aims to 2 | EME Outlook issue 42

become completely carbon neutral in the next few years but has already implemented its greener mission across the board. This ranges from industrial scale sustainable methods to individual CO2 budgets amongst inhabitants to help reduce carbon emissions and increase greener and healthier forms of travel, all the way to domestic green energy usage.

And Lahti Energy is one of the fundamental elements to the provision of the latter. Lahti Energy is a subsidiary of the City of Lahti and acts as a versatile and environmentally responsible energy company, with its main products being generating and supplying electricity and district heating that are produced at its two power plants within the area, which are almost 100 percent based on renewable energy.

In its heat production processes, the company uses small power plants located in different parts of the distribution network, as well as peak and backup district heating centres predominantly during the winter season.

Over 90 percent of people within Jouni Haikarainen, the Lahti area live CEO, Lahti Energy in housing connected

ENERGY & UTILITIES

LAHTI ENERGY

LAHTI ENERGY AT A GLANCE Through its associated company Oomi, Lahti Energy sells electricity throughout Finland. The company supplies district heating to its own network in Lahti, Hollola and Asikkala. In addition to Lahti and Hollola, the company’s electricity transmission network also extends in part to the municipalities of Iitti and Asikkala. Lahti Energy’s subsidiary LE-Sähköverkko Oy takes care of matters related to electricity transmission.

• The length of the company’s electricity network is 4,801 kilometres.

• The length of its district heating network is 710 kilometres.

Lahti Energy supplies its customers with high-quality and competitive energy as well as various energy-related services. It invests in producing environmentally friendly, renewable energy. Among other things, the company has built the world’s first gasification power plant using energy waste as fuel.

Lahti Energy’s own production uses recycled fuel, certified wood, biogas and, in severe frosts, natural gas. Through its associated companies, it has shares in hydropower, wind power and nuclear power. The amounts and ratios of the use of different fuels vary from year to year.

Lahti Energy employs approximately 200 employees on a permanent basis.

to the district network allowing the company to supply the vast majority of people with domestic green energy.

“The industry in Finland as well as globally is quite exciting and interesting. There are a lot of things going on in the energy industry at present,” begins Jouni Haikarainen, CEO of Lahti Energia.

“When you look back 10 years a lot has changed. The energy efficiency business is growing fast and this goes alongside heavy investments within the space.”

Haikarainen’s path into the energy sector began at university, where he graduated in Energy Engineering in 1990. Afterwards he took up the position of Consulting Engineer becoming part of a variety of projects for energy companies as well as heavy industrial firms.

As part of his consulting career Haikarainen spent time working in Portugal before moving back to 4 | EME Outlook issue 42

Radscan World-leading flue gas condensation: “Makes CHP plants 25 % more efficient” As much as 1 GW of heat - 1000 MW – supplied by the around 80 reference plants that have installed Swedish company Radscan’s world-leading fluegas condensation since the 90s.

– The energy yield from the CHP plant is increasing by 25 % while the investment amounts to less than five percent of the total investment cost, says Helena Roos, CEO of Radscan in Sweden. She continues: – The repayment period is only a few years, and Radscan’s plants have a normal lifespan of at least 30 years.

Radscan has been developing flue gas condensing since 1999, and today they have about 80 reference plants.

- Radscan’s flue gas condensation means that the CHP plants yield more heat from the same amount of fuel. The temperature of the flue gases emitted is decreased from 160 to 50 degrees. The difference is emitted as heat and used in central-heating networks.

Värtaverket in Stockholm is Radscan’s largest plant, producing up to 100 MW, but Radscan also prioritizes smaller plants.

Each flue gas condensation is tailored to the specific CHP plant.

Radscan has unique specialist knowledge. The company’s experts have actively developed the technology since it was first introduced in the 80s.

- We know that poor quality is expensive, and we receive numerous requests to replace other suppliers’ “cheaper” variants that didn’t last as expected.

Radscan’s plants are sustainable. We take no shortcuts at the expense of quality, Helena Roos concludes.

Flue gas condensation reduces the total payoff time on the entire cogeneration plant, says Helena Roos, CEO of Radscan in Sweden.

No plant is too big or too small for a Flue Gas Condensation from Radscan.

In Lahti KYV03 Radscan has delivered equipment for cleaning the condensate from flue gas condensation to fully de-ionized make-up water and utilized for high pressure steam generators.

Radscan always takes full functional responsibility of the delivered plant.

Proud supplier of Flue Gas Condensation Since 1999, Radscan has delivered “Turn-key” projects with Flue Gas Condensation, Combustion Air Humidification, Heat pumps, Waste Water Treatment and Makeup Water Treatment to Power Plants and other industries in Nordic and Europe.

To Lahti Energia Oy KYV03 project, Radscan’s delivered plant contributed with an additional 25% energy recovery on top of Boiler output.

Never hesitate to contact us if you want to learn more about what can be done at Your plant.

w w w.radscan.se.

LAHTI ENERGY Finland and becoming a Production Director for energy company E.ON Finland. From here he was given the opportunity of becoming Vice President at Fortum, before becoming Senior Vice President of Gasum Oy, both positions totalling over 14 years in the energy sector.

“In 2020 I joined Lahti Energia as CEO,” Haikarainen tells us. “I started in the energy industry and it has interested me ever since.”

Lahti Energy prides itself on providing CO2-free energy on a mass scale. In 2020, the company commissioned a biomass boiler that has enabled Lahti Energy to provide CO2-free heat to the city.

“We are also continuing our investments into wind power as a part of increasing our power portfolio,” Haikarainen informs us. “There are actually two other companies through which we are partnering to develop wind power plants for the increasing development of sustainable energy.”

What keeps these progressive projects moving forward is Lahti Energy’s many suppliers and employees.

“It would not be possible to run our business without reliable partners and suppliers,” Haikarainen affirms. “Our service stems from well-known and reliable partners.

“In Finland during winter months the temperature can often drop to –25 degrees. This means that everything has to work reliably, and if something goes wrong then we and our partners have to be able to react swiftly. This encompasses the whole region and is the number one priority for us and our customers.”

It is the highly professional company staff who ensure that risks and problems are limited throughout the company’s operation. Lahti Energy continuously develops in every aspect of its operations and recognises that its employees are the ones keeping the company moving forward, with clear management

ROXON ROXON has a longtime partnership with Lahti Energia, providing maintenance services to their systems.

We have ample experience managing the lifecycle of the equipment of our customers to provide higher occupancy rate. This comprises the supply of equipment, components, spare parts, modernization and condition monitoring.

ROXON is a valued supplier in the bulk material handling industry. We offer a wide array of equipment, project work, conveyor components and customer services. With professionality, experience, and innovative technology we deliver the best results, keeping the systems of our customers running and competitive.

www.roxon.com

Recion DEMANDING ENERGY SOLUTIONS High pressure power piping solutions have been Recion Ltd’s core business for several decades.

Recion can provide complete turnkey high pressure piping deliveries consisting of detail design, materials, prefabrication and installation to modern combined cycle and nuclear power plants.

Nordic location in Finland requires solutions to bear extreme circumstances. There is need to take extra measures to ensure high standards of the products and work.

Therefore safety, sustainability and quality are the the main values that Recion promotes.

Recion – Niche expertise in highpressure piping solutions

Recion.com

6 | EME Outlook issue 42

ENERGY & UTILITIES

EME Outlook issue 42 | 7

LAHTI ENERGY

LAHTI ENERGY’S CORE VALUES Lahti Energy is committed to providing high quality service to its customers and recognises its responsibilities. It adheres to its company values and adheres to ethical principles in all its activities, such as accountability, transparency and fairness.

The company’s commonly agreed goals contribute to the well-being and sustainable development of both people and the environment.

OUR VISION In 2025, Lahti Energy will be a profitable and progressive energy group. It aims for carbon neutrality.

OUR STRATEGY The company’s goal is profitable growth, which it achieves with satisfied customers, efficient processes and quality products, even outside its traditional business area.

Lahti Energy’s strengths are optimised cogeneration and motivated professional staff. The company takes advantage of networking and prepares for the future with a diverse range of fuels and reliable distribution networks.

8 | EME Outlook issue 42

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targets to guide each individual in their important work.

Alongside the quality management of company employees, which includes celebrating meeting company targets, safety is paramount for Lahti Energy.

“All our activities strive to create a completely safe work environment

from which all parties involved return home healthy and with positive wellbeing,” Haikarainen tells us. “This is a vital aspect of our company.”

Lahti Energy promotes a sustainable modern world above all else. Yet as a people centric company it also ensures that it gives back to the local community.

The company provides sponsorship to a variety of youth sports clubs and events. It also supports local schools and educational institutions by promoting entrepreneurship with pupils and students.

Into the future, Lahti Energy aims to develop and introduce new products for the district heating customer, on top of improving its service so that the company can better respond to the heating market competition.

Spearheading the sustainable energy frontier in Finland, Lahti Energy is well worth keeping an eye on in this increasingly progressive, innovative and green decade.

Tel: 029 000 8000 viestinta@lahtienergia.fi www.lahtienergia.fi

EME Outlook issue 42 | 9

LAHTI ENERGY Kauppakatu 31, 15140 Lahti, Finland Tel: 029 000 8000 viestinta@lahtienergia.fi www.lahtienergia.fi

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