Jari Lahtinen, a heat procurement expert at Turku Energia, says that the new Artukainen heat pump gas scrubber is expected to save 20 GWh of energy per year.
– This is equivalent to the annual energy consumption of around 1000 private houses. Our goal is to run the flue gas scrubber at its maximum capacity of 3 MW,” says Lahtinen.
– Caligo was chosen as Turku Energia’s partner not only because of its good product, but also because of its good references, Lahtinen says.
Artukainen’s main equipment investment is around EUR 2.5 million in size, plus the construction costs of the property.
The investment also supports the carbon neutrality objectives of the company’s strategy. Turku Energia is committed to the Carbon Neutral Turku 2029 target and is actively working to achieve carbon neutrality in electricity and heat production by the deadline.
Oskari Salovaara, Managing Director of Caligo Industria, which has been operating for ten years, says that the company’s operating model always includes a preliminary study to calculate whether investing in a flue gas scrubber is profitable for the customer.
– A clear potential was identified in Artuke from the very beginning,” he confirms.
30% less fuel
At a general level, the heat recovery benefits of a heat pump scrubber mean up to 30% less fuel. The cost savings are considerable, as the Russian war of aggression has led to higher prices for wood chips and other forest industry by-products, for example.
– There is a very clear business case if every third round of wood chips does not materialise.
– 30% less fuel means the same reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from production,” Salovaara points out.
Successful scheduling
The global shortage of components in the industry has only worsened over the past year.
– For example, delivery times for some electrical and automation components have already stretched from four months to two years,” says Salovaara.
The situation on the raw materials market has also been difficult, with Ukraine, Belarus and Russia being the biggest producers of structural steel in Europe.
In the case of Artukainen, the potential delays caused by component shortages were overcome by good planning.
– Everything has gone well in this respect. Because we anticipated the situation and were on the move with Turku Energia in good time, we have also kept to the planned schedule,” says Salovaara.
Stairon is a trusted partner
The project emphasised strong local cooperation, as Turku Energia, Caligo Industria and Stairon all operate in the Turku area. The parties estimate that the overall implementation will be “about 75% Turku-based”.
– The special transports will not be long, as the distances between the manufacturer, the assembly and the installation site are only a few kilometres as the crow flies,” says Salovaara.
Caligo and Stairon have been working together for several years.
– Stairon’s strength lies in its wide-ranging expertise. We can order the whole package from Stairon – both welding and installation,” says Salovaara.
Turku Energia
Turku Energia is the leading energy company in Southwest Finland. The company’s energy services cover the sale and distribution of electricity, district heating, cooling and steam, as well as network repair and maintenance services for electricity grids, outdoor lighting and traffic lights.
Caligo Industria
Caligo Industria manufactures equipment and systems for the recovery of industrial waste heat.