Finnish Energy producer orders 45MW Electrode Boiler

PARAT Halvorsen as will deliver a 45MW Electrode Hot Water Boiler to Tampereen Sähkölaitos in Finland that will be installed at the Lielahti Power Plant, reducing their need for natural gas.

The delivery includes a 45MW Electrode Hot Water Boiler and control panel with 11kV power connection, 10 barg design pressure and 184°C design temperature. PARAT will deliver circulation and feedwater pumps, heat exchanger, blowdown tank and dosing unit.

The circulation pump, heat exchanger, belonging circulation pipes will be prefabricated and assembled in the workshop and dis-assembled prior to shipment. This for an easy assembling at the job site. PARAT will also do the Start-up, Testing, Commissioning and Training of personnel.


The IEH Electrode Boiler from PARAT will be located at the site of a currently operating natural gas power plant in Lielahti, Tampere. (Photo: Tampereen Sähkölaitos)

Tampereen Sähkölaitos’ investment to PARAT Electrode Boiler
Tampereen Sähkölaitos is a local energy producer who has been serving its private and business customers in the region since 1888 supplying reliable and environmentally friendly electricity, district heating and district cooling.

The goal of Tampereen Sähkölaitos is to reduce CO₂ emissions by 95 % from 2010 by 2030 while remaining a reliable heat and electricity provider in the area. Currently the company operates biomass, waste-to-energy and natural gas CHP plants, hydro power plant and several heat-only-boilers fuelled with biomass, natural gas and oil.

The investment to PARAT Electrode Boiler will help with the geopolitical risks facing energy production as well as reduce the company’s emissions since it will be used to replace natural gas in the district heating system with grid electricity. Tampereen Sähkölaitos produces and delivers heat to approximately 250 000 residents in Tampere area and this investment will make the local district heating system more flexible, sustainable, and secure.

The Electrode Boiler will be located at the site of a currently operating natural gas power plant in Lielahti, Tampere. During sub-zero temperatures, the Lielahti power plant produces the district heating needed for peak load demand. The electrode boiler will replace partially the use of the Lielahti Power Plant reducing the need for natural gas. In addition, the Electrode Boiler will be used at times of low electricity prices to reduce the need for heat-only natural gas boilers or even biomass boilers used in the district heating system.

Because the Electrode Boiler is used mainly at times when wind energy production pushes the electricity prices down, the investment supports the transition to alternating electricity production sources and helps with the curtailment of renewable electricity generation.

The boiler will utilize the current infrastructure at the power plant site and therefore there is little to no need for new groundwork and district heating network. The installation is relatively fast, and thus it effectively helps with the acute need for fossil-free heat production created by the current geopolitical situation.

The Electrode Boiler operates as balancing force in the electricity and district heating networks. The ever-growing share of renewable electricity generation has created the demand for flexible means to manage electricity demand. By integrating the electricity and heating sectors in this centralized way, the energy system can be used to balance peaks in both demand and production.