Imatran Lämpö and Stora Enso Imatran factories start cooperation - waste heat will be used in the district heating network in the future

The project diversifies Imatra's district heat production and supports the production's low emissions and reduces the need for biofuels and fossil fuels.

The project makes it easier to control the temperature of the factory's waste water and thus helps to reduce the environmental load.

The project is technically challenging and requires significant investments. The initial total cost estimate of the investment made by Imatran Lämpö Oy, which consists of a heat pump plant and a transmission line, is approximately 13 million euros with reserves. The state-granted RRF investment subsidy of around 3 million euros is essential for the implementation of the project.

Investigations, reviews, implementation planning and contract negotiations continue in a hurry towards a possible procurement decision.

Imatran Lämpö Oy and Stora Enso Imatran's factories have started a collaboration to utilize waste heat from Kaukopää factory's wastewater in Imatran's district heating network. Waste heat would be recovered from wastewater before it is cleaned.

The parties have made a preliminary study on the utilization of waste heat from Stora Enso's Imatra factories in the production of district heat. In the memorandum of intent signed in the fall of 2022, Stora Enso Oyj, Imatran factories and Imatran Lämpö Oy have agreed to further work on the project with the goal of its profitable implementation, including feasible investment and electricity and heat supply contracts.

The heat pump plant has an output of approximately 15 MW and an annual production of 100 GWh of district heat, which corresponds to more than half of Imatra's district heat needs. The new district heat transmission line enables the facility to be connected to Imatra's district heating network and to change the heating method of properties using natural gas in certain areas to low-carbon district heating. The goal is to have the plant and transmission line in use at the beginning of 2025.

The project diversifies Imatra's district heating production and supports the production's low emissions, as well as helps control costs, guaranteeing a more stable district heating price. The heat pump plant would replace more than half of Imatra Lämmö's purchase of wood, about 1000 truckloads per year. The employment impact of the project during construction is estimated to be around 40 person-years.

—The importance of reliability of supply and maintenance has been emphasized recently as the operating environment has changed drastically. Equally important is a competitive and stable price level - it is the cornerstone of the company's strategy and operations now and in the future. In addition to the current district heating based on forest energy, the company needs opportunities to utilize waste heat generated in industry as district heating. This project with Stora Enso's Imatra factories, our significant partner, is exactly that and therefore very important, states the CEO of Imatran Lämpö Oy Vesa-Pekka Vainikka.

—We offer a location and waste heat for use by the heat pump plant. Nowadays, we cool the wastewater before cleaning, so we get a little benefit in terms of energy efficiency. We see it as important to enable this project that develops responsibility, says the factory manager Mikko Nieminen.

—A similar project on the utilization of heat from Imatra's factories has been investigated several times for at least 30 years. Due to the technical and financial challenges related to the heat recovery and the long transfer distance of the heat, the studies have not been concreted into investments in the past. The realization of the project is today. In addition to the environmental benefits, the economic benefits are a significant vitality factor for the people of Imatra far into the future, says the mayor of Imatra Matias Hilden.

For more information:

Factory manager Mikko Nieminen, Stora Enso Oyj, Imatra factories, mikko.nieminenstoraenso.com (mikko[dot]nieminen[at]storaenso[dot]com), P. 0407738914

Mayor Matias Hilden, City of Imatra, matias.hildenimatra.fi (matias[dot]hilden[at]imatra[dot]fi), tel. 040 186 0531

CEO Vesa-Pekka Vainikka, Imatran Lämpö, vesa-pekka.vainikkaimatra.fi (vesa-pekka[dot]vainika[at]imatra[dot]fi), tel. 020 617 4800

Read the announcement on Imatra Lämmö's website

Stora Enso Oyj is a global supplier of renewable products for the packaging, biomaterial, wood product and paper industries as part of the bioeconomy. Stora Enso is also one of the world's largest private forest owners. About 22 people work in the group, and the company is publicly listed on the Helsinki and Stockholm stock exchanges.

Stora Enso has set an ambitious environmental goal of halving greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by 2030. Read more about Stora Enso's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by 50% by 2030 here.

Imatran Lämpö Oy is a limited company wholly owned by the city of Imatra. Imatran Lämpö Oy is part of the urban group of the city of Imatra. Imatran Lämpö Oy produces and supplies district heating and sells and distributes natural gas in the Imatra city area. The district heating of Imatra Lämmö has been completely carbon neutral in 2020—2022.