MAN to supply world’s largest ATW heat pump to Helsinki DH plant
30th August 2024
FINLAND: MAN Energy Solutions is to supply a 33MW air-to-water heat pump unit to Finnish energy company Helen Oy for its Patola heating plant complex in Helsinki.
The new heating plant, which includes the industrial-scale heat pump and two 50 MW electric boilers, is projected to reduce CO2 emissions by a total of 56,000 tons when it comes online in 2026/27 heating season.
According to MAN, the air-to-water heat pump plant will be the largest in the world, with a full heating production capacity ranging from 20MW to 33MW, depending on the air temperature.
The MAN unit can operate at outdoor temperatures as low as -20°C, using CO2 refrigerant in a closed loop system and delivering heat at temperatures of up to 90°C.
The MAN HOFIM compressor is an oil-free, hermetically-sealed unit, which will be manufactured and tested by MAN Energy Solutions in Zurich, Switzerland. The compression unit utilises a high-speed motor and active magnetic bearings, enabling it to operate without requiring a dry gas seal system and the complete oil system.
Annually, the new plant will supply around 200GWh of heat to around 30,000 households in Helsinki, reducing CO2 emissions by 26,000 tons.
The solution also enables rapid power-balancing of the electrical grid, supporting the integration of intermittent power generation like solar and wind.
Transitioning the city’s heating system is seen as crucial to achieving Helsinki’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. “Once completed, the heat pump plant will significantly reduce the CO2 emissions caused by heating, bringing us closer to our net-zero target. In addition, the new plant is likely to create price stability for customers, as its production is easily adjustable,” stated Juhani Aaltonen, Helen Oy’s VP of Green Investments.
