The 260 million euro project is being developed by Fortum’s associated company Turun Seudun Energiantuotanto Oy (TSE) in order to replace Naantali’s 50-year old coal plant. Fortum will contribute 40 million euros to the cost of the plant which is expected to be commissioned in autumn 2017. Although it will be able to use biomass, coal and high-quality recycled waste as fuel, the project design will be orientated exclusively towards sole use of biomass. This will consist of locally sourced wood chips transported from a distance of around 100 to 150 kilometres from the plant. Initial consumption is expected to be about 0.7 million cubic metres and eventually as much 1.2 million cubic meters.
The project will create some 200 permanent jobs from sourcing the biomass once the plant is commissioned. Additionally, the construction phase, due to start at the end of this year, will provide another 500 jobs.
The plant will be able to generate 900 gigawatt hours of electricity (142MW) and 1,650 gigawatt hours (244MW) of heat annually.
“By investing in a new power plant in Naantali, we are pursuing growth in energy-efficient combined heat and power production in line with our strategy” said Jouni Haikarainen, Vice President, Fortum Heat Division. “The fact that the new power plant aims to utilise as much domestic biomass as possible also makes the new project an interesting one for Fortum.”
Energy-efficient combined heat and power was among Fortum’s most significant investment targets in 2013 with plants commissioned in Järvenpää, Finland, and Jelgava, Latvia. The company also commissioned plants in Klaipeda, Lithuania with test-runs at a similar facility in Brista, Sweden.
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