Solar power plant on the roof of Koske school

400 solar panels will be installed on the roof of the new Koski school building. Imatran Toimitilat Oy has made a procurement decision to acquire a solar power plant from Väre Oy. The technology of polycrystalline panels is from GreenEnergy Finland.

The acquisition is carried out on a turnkey basis.

─ For the first 10 years, we buy the electricity produced by the solar power plant for the school property, so we don't actually invest a single euro in the equipment. After ten years, the equipment will be transferred to the ownership of the city group, the financial manager responsible for the purchase on behalf of Toimitilat Oy Marko Pollari says.

Initially, solar power electricity is about 10 percent more expensive per kilowatt hour than basic electricity, but after 10 years the power plant will produce completely free eco-energy for the school center's needs.

94 percent for school use

The solar power plant produces 11 percent of the entire school's energy needs. The school's annual demand is estimated to be 820 kWh and the solar power plant produces approximately 000 kWh per year.

The produced solar energy is used directly, it cannot be stored. Because of this, the school is not able to use all the solar energy collected on the school's roof, as part of the energy is generated during the summer holidays and weekends. In winter, energy yield expectations are low.

─ 94 percent of the electricity produced goes to the school's own use, the rest is sold to the grid.

The equipment supplier has given a power output guarantee.

─ Even after 25 years, the panels still produce at least 80 percent of the amount of energy that the devices were capable of when new, a leading expert Petri Valtonen From Väre Oy.

The roof of the ice rink is also being investigated

Electricity production and consumption can be monitored in real time. If teachers want, this information can be used in teaching.

The Imatra city group is now starting to test the benefits of solar power on a wider scale.

─ The Koski school center is a good place to start when creating a new space. The installation of the solar power plant can be done during the construction of the property. We also know that the property will certainly be in school use for a long time.

The goal is to move towards carbon-neutral energy production. Next, let's consider the corresponding system of the ice rink.

─ There, solar power would work well when the usage was jerky around the clock. First, however, the structure of the ice rink's roof must be found out. Aurinkovoima would also suit the Mansikkala school center, Pollari states.

The new building of the Koski school center will be completed in 2021. The solar power plant was tendered this fall. A negotiation request was submitted to five companies. Three of them submitted a bid.

Imatra has joined the Hinku-kuneti network. The municipalities in the network strive to curb climate change. The city has already taken significant measures in this regard. These include bioheat produced by Imatran Lämpö Oy, changing street lights to LED lights and charging points for electric cars. 

For more information:

Finance manager Marko Pollari, Toimitilat Oy & Mitra, p.  05, marko. pollarimitra.fi

Leading expert Petri Valtonen / Väre, tel. 040 5839464, petri.valtonenvare.fi