Waste heat from SSAB Hämeenlinna feeds into Loimua’s district heating network

“This project supports SSAB’s sustainability goals. It’s great that industrial waste heat can be used for city heating in this way. We have previously delivered small amounts of heat energy recovered from the flue gases of galvanizing line 2 to Loimua, and the cooperation has worked well,” says Mikko Lepistö, Energy Director at SSAB Europe.

The closed cooling water system at the Hämeenlinna plant circulates water to cool all production lines. In practice, the waste heat is utilized by transferring water from the plant’s auxiliary cooling basin through a pipe to the heat pump plant, and the cooled water returns to the basin via another pipe. About 2.5 km of district heating pipeline has been built between SSAB’s plant and the power plant.

At the heating and cooling plant, the temperature is raised to about 85°C and transferred via a pipeline to Loimua’s Vanaja power plant, where it is further heated if necessary to match the district heating network requirements. SSAB has arranged electricity supply, as well as water and sewage connections for the heating and cooling plant. Loimua has handled the construction work otherwise.

“Our goal is to produce completely carbon-neutral district heating by 2030. This project has a significant impact on our journey toward that goal. We estimate the project will reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by about 8,750 tonnes. Energy production also becomes more efficient as the share of heat produced without combustion increases. Waste heat significantly reduces the use of both biofuels and natural gas,” says Mika Riekkola, Chief Operating Officer at Loimua.

Loimua produces and sells district heating and natural gas to real estate customers, as well as comprehensive energy services to industry. In Hämeenlinna, Loimua heats the homes and properties of about 35,000 residents.

For further information, please contact:
Mikko Lepistö, SSAB, Energy Director, [email protected], tel. +358 50 315 4385