Valmet DNA Automation technology to the world’s largest data center excess heat recovery project in Finland

Valmet Oyj trade press release, May 28, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. EEST

Valmet will supply its Valmet DNA Automation technology to the data center heat recovery project developed by Fortum. The project is one of a kind: there is no data center heat recovery concept of a similar scale anywhere else in the world. Valmet DNA will control water-to-water heat pumps, air-to-water heat pumps and two electric boilers at two Fortum Power and Heat Oy’s heat pump plants which will be built in Espoo and Kirkkonummi, Finland. 

The order was included in Valmet’s orders received of the first quarter 2024. The value of the order is not disclosed. The delivery to Kirkkonummi will be taken over by the customer in September 2025 and the delivery to Espoo in December 2025.

The heat pump plants will recycle emission-free excess heat from two planned large data center areas to Fortum’s existing district heating network. The data centers will eventually provide 40% of the consumed heat in the network area. Fortum’s district heat in Finland will be produced coal-free during 2024 and carbon-neutrally before 2030.

”The excess heat offtake project from the data center areas is our flagship project in decarbonizing our district heat production. We wanted to ensure that the automation technology partner is reliable and has the exact solutions we need. Valmet has a convincing track record in our other production sites, which made our choice quite straightforward”, says Teemu Nieminen, Director Project Execution at Fortum’s Heating and cooling business in Finland.


The principle of recycling waste heat. Over 75% of a data center’s waste heat can be recovered. Picture: Fortum.com

“We are excited to be involved in turning Fortum’s district heat production carbon neutral in Finland. The heat pump plants are part of Fortum’s district heating system, including the Suomenoja power plant in Espoo that has been running with Valmet’s automation for years. In the future, the new plants can be controlled and monitored remotely from the Suomenoja power plant. We have earlier supplied similar Valmet DNA Automation Systems to Fortum’s Vermo 2 and Mankkaa heat pump plants,” says Tom Bäckman, Sales Manager, Automation Systems, Valmet.

Delivery’s technical information

Valmet’s total scope of delivery will include Valmet DNA Automation Systems and Valmet DNA User Interface both to the Kolabacken heat plant in Kirkkonummi and the Hepokorpi heat plant in Espoo.

About the customer

Fortum is one of the cleanest energy producers in Europe, and its actions are guided by its ambitious environmental targets. It generates and delivers clean energy reliably and helps industries decarbonize their processes and grow. Fortum’s core operations in the Nordics comprise of efficient, CO2-free power generation as well as reliable supply of electricity and district heat to private and business customers.

VALMET
Corporate Communications 

For further information, please contact:
Tom Bäckman, Sales Manager, Automation Systems, Valmet, tel. +358 50 317 4355, tom.backman@valmet.com

Valmet is a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. With our automation systems and flow control solutions we serve an even wider base of process industries. Our more than 19,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers’ performance forward – every day.

The company has over 220 years of industrial history and a strong track record in continuous improvement and renewal. Valmet’s net sales in 2023 were approximately EUR 5.5 billion.

Valmet’s shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki and the head office is in Espoo, Finland.    

Follow us on valmet.com | X | X (IR) | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | 

Processing of personal data