Introduction

The City of Turku and Turku Energy Ltd decided to focus on new developments in district heating production in order to fight climate change.

Objectives and target audience

Turku energia (joint-stock power company owned by the City of Turku) aims to increase the use of environmental friendly energy forms of energy.  With the construction of the Oriketo District Heating Station, the first one in Turku fired with biofuels, Turku aimed to replace part of the district heat generated by fossil fuels. The objective was to increase the use of renewable energy sources by 16 %.

Financial Resources and Partners involved

Construction costs were 14 million euros. Turku Energy also received some funding from Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Process

Turku Energia had the first environmental permit for the biomass plant in 2000. The construction of the new biofuel-fired heating station (40 MW) and condensing plans (12 MW) in the industrial area of Oriketo was commissioned in November 2001.
The characteristics of the plant are the following: The heat generated by the station replaces district heat energy generated by fossil fuels. District heat production is about 300 GWh/ year. The use of biofuels reduces CO2 from heat generation significantly and sulphur and nitrogen oxide emissions at some extent. The main fuel for the heating station is logging residue delivered mainly from final fellings of spruce-dominant forests in the surroundings. This fuel is handled totally indoors to minimise dust and noise problems.
In 2006, Turku Energia applied for a new permission and enlargement for another 40 MW boiler. But the permission was not accepted by the Southern West Environment Department. Therefore, the new permission is still on processing.

Results

The operation of the station and the supply and transport of fuels offered about 20 new jobs. The new biofuel-fired heating station secures the heat supply to Turku’s inhabitants in a favourable and environmental friendly way. The share of bioenergy in district heating increased to about 20% after the construction of Oriketo wood-fired heating plant. This implies, at an annual level, CO2 emissions reductions by about 90.000 t, SO2 emissions by about 300 t and NO emissions by about 70 t.

Critical Success Factors / Challenges

The City Council and Turku Energia commitments towards fighting climate change have made it easy to justify new investments on carbon free heat production.
This plant been a very profitably investment. It produces approximately 300 GWh district heat every year and it has compensated the use of charcoal in Turku region.