Utility Lahti Energy Ltd is building a new power plant fired by certified biofuel in the Kymijärvi power plant area in Lahti. The project’s electrification provider is VEO, with the main responsibility for designing, scaling and manufacturing electrification equipment, including installation and commissioning. Upon its completion in 2020, Kymijärvi III will replace a coal-fired 1970s power plant (Kymijärvi I) and reduce Lahti Energy’s carbon dioxide emissions by 600,000 tonnes a year. Thus far, VEO has carried out similar electrification and automation turnkey deliveries for more than 50 biofuel power plants in 15 different countries.
The district heating power of the new biofuel power plant is approximately 190 megawatts, satisfying roughly half of the Lahti region’s annual need for district heating. The plant’s machinery is controlled through the electrification system delivered by VEO. At the moment, VEO is carrying out the delivery and installation of equipment to the site. The plan is to begin commissioning the equipment this autumn.
Kymijärvi III will be built anticipating future needs and taking climate targets into account. At the first stage, the biofuel power plant is being built as a high-pressure steam boiler, which makes it possible to convert the power plant to generate electricity with additional investments. The circulating fluidised bed boiler of the power plant is suitable for using not only biofuel, but also other solid fuels in energy generation. The power plant will also be equipped with heat recovery, which makes the power plant highly efficient.
