Kuopion Energia green lights biomass boiler conversion

Energy technology supplier Metso has won the contract to convert the combustion technology at Kuopion Energia’s Haapaniemi Two in Kuopio, Finland.

The change will use a shift from pulverized peat-fired combustion to fluidised bed technology. The rebuild will take place during the summer and early autumn of 2013, but the value of the order has not been disclosed.

Kuopion Energia hopes the project will decrease its plant's emissions as the Industrial Emissions Directive is due to tighten the emission requirements for power boilers by the beginning of 2016. After the conversion, the boiler will run on peat and wood with a mixing ratio that can be varied flexibly.

‘This conversion will make us less dependent on energy peat, which has suffered from delivery problems, and also enable us to maintain the competitiveness of district heating in the future. The project makes it possible to significantly decrease CO2 emissions and is thus in line with the Climate Policy of the City of Kuopio,’ says Kuopion Energia MD Esa Lindholm.