Valmet to supply a flue gas scrubber to Kuopion Energia's Haapaniemi 2 power plant

Valmet Corporation's press release on November 18, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. EET

Kuopion Energia has ordered a flue gas scrubber from Valmet for its Haapaniemi 2 power plant. The flue gas scrubber system with its efficient heat recovery process will significantly increase the plant's energy efficiency and production capacity. This new investment will enable the plant to recover district heat in an amount corresponding to the heating needs of 9,000 average-sized single-family houses.

The installation of the flue gas scrubber will begin in early spring 2015, and the plant will be ready for use next fall. The order will be included in Valmet's fourth quarter 2014 orders received. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The cost estimate for Kuopion Energia's total project is EUR 12 million.

"The project will enable competitive district heat production in Kuopio in future too. When examined from a technical and economical viewpoint, Valmet's scrubber delivery proved to be the most profitable solution. In addition, we have an excellent track record of cooperation with Valmet in previous projects," says Kuopion Energia's Production Director Peter Seppälä.

New flue gas scrubber meets tightened emissions regulations

Thanks to the flue gas scrubber, the sulphur dioxide and dust emissions from the flue gases of Kuopion Energia's Haapaniemi 2 power plant will be reduced to meet the limits entering into force in the beginning of 2016. At the same time, the heat that is currently released into the air with the flue gases will be harnessed for district heating. The increased heat production capacity will replace oil-fuelled heating plants at peak loads. This new investment will reduce the annual fuel consumption at the Haapaniemi power plant by more than 15 per cent.

"Due to tightening emissions regulations, we have been focusing strongly on the development of new flue gas cleaning systems. In addition to reducing emissions, we will be able to harness the flue gas heat output to produce more district heat for customers. We are very pleased to be carrying out this project together with Kuopion Energia. The order is a token of our customer's trust in our technical expertise and our ability to deliver a project of this scale. This and other similar orders we have received bear testimony to the competitiveness of our solution," says Risto Hämäläinen, General Manager, Environmental Systems from Valmet.

Valmet's delivery includes the scrubber system with related process equipment and modernization of some of the existing systems, such as the smokestack and the flue gas fans. Extending the service life of the current electrostatic precipitator is an important part of the delivery. Heat recovery at full capacity will be 46 MW, corresponding to around 180,000 megawatt-hours in terms of annual energy.

In 2013, Valmet converted the Haapaniemi 2 power plant's pulverized combustion technology into bubbling fluidized bed technology.

Kuopion Energia's Haapaniemi power plants produce both electricity and district heat (image source Kuopion Energia)

About Kuopion Energia

Kuopion Energia produces electricity and district heat, sells electricity and handles the Group's administrative services. The company's net sales in 2013 totaled EUR 72 million and it employed 108 people.

VALMET CORPORATION
Corporate Communications

For further information, please contact:
Risto Hämäläinen, General Manager, Environmental Systems, Valmet Power, tel. +358 40 505 2001
Peter Seppälä, Production Director, Kuopion Energia, tel. +358 40 709 7301

Valmet Corporation is a leading global developer and supplier of services and technologies for the pulp, paper and energy industries. Our 11,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward - every day.

Valmet's services cover everything from maintenance outsourcing to mill and plant improvements and spare parts. Our strong technology offering includes entire pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bio-energy production.

The company has over 200 years of industrial history and was reborn through the demerger of the pulp, paper and power businesses from Metso Group in December 2013. Valmet's net sales in 2013 were approximately EUR 2.6 billion. Valmet's objective is to become the global champion in serving its customers.

Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd.