According to Euronews.green, the air-to-water unit will be deployed to help with the decarbonization of the city's thermal network, which works by generating the required thermal power in a centralized area and then distributing it around the city via multiple pipelines.

The planned heat pump, which can operate at temperature of down to -20 degrees Celsius, will be powered entirely by renewables and could provide heat from the end of 2026, according to the state-owned energy company.

Juhani Aaltonen, vice president of green investments at Helen Oy, said that "Helsinki has set the ambitious goal to become carbon neutral by 2030, and transitioning our heating system is crucial to achieving this."

"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", he added.

German energy expert MAN Energy Solutions is the company that will manufacture and supply Finland with the world's largest heat pump. The new heating plant will use the large heat pump, as well as two 50MW electric boilers, to supply 30.000 homes with the required heating output, saving around 26.000 tons of CO2 per year.

Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Energy Solutions, says that "urban district heating projects that utilize climate-neutral technologies are essential for advancing global efforts to reduce carbon emissions."

Some 50% of the energy used in Europe is employed for heating and cooling buildings, while 70% of it is being generated with the help of fossil fuels. Helsinki's coal-powered heating plant could have been replaced by a biomass facility, but authorities ultimately ruled that possibility out due to the fact that it would strain the country's forests.

Photo source: MAN Energy Solutions