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VEO to provide automation and instrumentation for Helen’s seasonal energy storage facility in Helsinki

5 toukokuun, 2023

Energy company Helen and construction company Skanska are turning the rock caverns below the new Helsinki neighbourhood Kruunuvuorenranta into a large-scale seasonal energy storage facility. VEO is trusted with all the automation and instrumentation needed at the facility, which enables decentralised and ecological energy production for the area.

Only 15 minutes by tram from Helsinki city centre, the seaside Kruunuvuorenranta neighbourhood will by 2030 house over 13 500 residents and 800 new jobs. One-third of its buildings will be heated by a ground-breaking seasonal energy storage facility, built by Helen and Skanska in caverns previously used for oil storage. The solution, which balances winter- and summertime heat supply and demand, is one of the first of its kind in Finland. In the summer, the caverns will be filled with sun-heated sea water from nearby, and in wintertime, the heated water will be used as an energy source for the facility’s heat pumps. Excess heat from the residential buildings of the area will also be processed and collected.

VEO’s turnkey delivery in Kruunuvuorenranta includes the planning, production, commissioning and end-customer training of all process automation and instrumentation needed at the energy storage facility. The process automation system will steer the facility’s production processes to a high degree thanks to so-called thermal power library blocks developed by VEO. This smart technology is thoroughly tried and tested and will ensure remote, single-command optimal operation of the facility. Furthermore, the technology allows for the highest possible efficiency and usability, and lowers carbon dioxide emissions.

The Kruunuvuorenranta energy storage facility is set to be ready in the summer of 2024. VEO’s work on the project is under way, currently in the planning and programming phase. As VEO’s long-time customer, Helen has trusted VEO in automation and electrification projects since 1995. The current project is a continuation of this collaboration:

“We have a long history of collaborating with VEO and have worked on several projects together. VEO is known for their capabilities, high-quality and ability to flexibly deliver scalable system entities to any need. We trust them fully also in this project”, says Mikko Korpisalo, Technical Manager at Helen.

Once operating, the energy storage in Kruunuvuorenranta will facilitate the use of more renewable energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. For Helen, the project is one step closer to the energy company’s goal of carbon neutral energy production and a decentralised energy system, where heat is produced from the earth, the air, water and energy collected from waste heat. For VEO, the project is an important part of its green transition work and strategy.

“This project is significant for Helen, for us, for Finland and on a global scale. Here, we can showcase VEO’s excellent know-how and ability to deliver solutions for new technologies. Being a stable but flexible actor in the field, we believe we are a good partner for our customers in trailblazing projects such as this one”, says Rami Luoma, Sales Manager at VEO.