Developing smarter district heating in Kuusamo

• Main Authors: Hiltunen, Sanna, Takalo, Heidi
• Other Authors: fi=Oulun ammattikorkeakoulu|sv=Oulun ammattikorkeakoulu|en=Oulu University of Applied Sciences|
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: Oulun ammattikorkeakoulu, Oamk 2020
• Subjects: energiantuotanto; kaukolämmitys; Kuusamo; Northern Finland
• Online Access: http://www.theseus.fi/handle/10024/344256

Combined heat and power production (CHP) has been the most popular way to produce district heating in Finland for decades, especially in population centers. In the last years, the profitability of CHP plants has however decreased due to lowered electricity prices. A partial solution to enhance the profitability of CHP district heating is a thermal energy storage. Oulu University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with EVO, the energy and water co-operative in Kuusamo, are building and piloting a heat storage for district heating in Kuusamo area in Northern Finland. The pilot aims to increase electricity production during its high price hours and reduce oil use in covering peak loads of heat. Heat storage can be discharged during low-price electricity or to cover peak loads of heat. The storage use will be analyzed and optimized during 2020 and 2021 to reach the maximum profit and minimum amount of CO2 emissions.