Lohjan Biolämpö orders 26 MW Renewa biofuel boiler plant
Renewa Oy and Lohjan Biolämpö Oy have signed an agreement on delivery of a major new boiler plant to Pitkäniemi industrial area in Lohja, Finland. In addition to this 26 MW biomass-fired boiler, Renewa will also supply two 13 MW natural gas boilers to provide backup power. The new installation on the site of the Finnforest Kerto plant will generate steam for the industrial plant, while also supporting the local district heating network in the town of Lohja. The project will result in a long-term environmentally friendly energy system.
The company established for this project, Lohjan Biolämpö Oy, is owned by Lohjan Energiahuolto Oy Loher, the Metsäliitto Group and Ääneseudun Energia Oy. Due for completion in autumn 2012, the new heating plant will use biofuel from the Pitkäniemi industrial area, mainly comprising timber-based by-products, wood chips and other clean timber from the Kerto plant of Metsäliitto Wood Products Industry. The natural gas-fired boilers of the backup power plant will be constructed at the same time.
“We are seeking an energy solution that is environmentally sustainable and based on local biomass. The location of the new facility on the same site as the manufacturing plant providing the fuel will also considerably reduce fuel transportation and the resulting environmental emissions. Discontinuing the use of increasingly expensive coal power will also help to reduce energy costs. The total output of the new plant will be about 200 GWh per year, which will cover the energy requirements of its owners,” explains Kari Liski, Managing Director of Lohjan Biolämpö Oy.
Lohjan Energiahuolto Oy Loher will derive about half of its future urban heating requirements from the new plant.
“The principal benefit of this project for us will be reliable generating capacity to ensure district heating supplies for local residents. It will also bring a huge reduction in the environmental impacts of our energy production, because the use of biomass will reduce our carbon dioxide emissions by 80 per cent compared to current levels. Heating energy supply costs will also decrease, enabling us to provide cheaper district heating to our customers,” explains Loher Managing Director Markus Tamminen.
Renewa was chosen to deliver the project after a thorough competitive tendering process. The company specialises in advanced combustion solutions utilising renewable fuels for local heat and power production. The factors that tipped the balance in Renewa’s favour were its solid experience in plants of this size and its excellent references for similar installations based on combustion of industrial by-products.
Renewa will implement the Lohja heating plant project as an EPC delivery. The project schedule is brisk – the boiler installations will begin early next year and final handover to the customer will take place in October 2012.
For further information please contact:
Tuomas Timonen, Managing director, Renewa Oy
Tel.: +358 50 386 0448, e-mail: tuomas.timonen(at)renewa.fi
Kari Liski, Managing director, Lohjan Biolämpö Oy
Tel: +358 50 598 8000, e-mail: kari.liski(at)finnforest.com
Markus Tamminen, Managing director, Lohjan Energiapalvelut Oy Loher
Tel: +358 50 360 8039, e-mail: markus.tamminen(at)loher.fi