pwr_october-2024 - 11

GLOBAL MONITOR
2. At the heart of the new large-scale heat
pump in Helsinki is a hermetically sealed HOFIM
(high-speed, oil-free, integrated-motor)
compressor by MAN Energy Solutions. Courtesy:
MAN Energy Solutions
energy subsidy for the heat pump plant
in recognition of its emissions reduction
potential. The plant is expected to come
online during the winter of 2026-2027.
MAN said the basic principle in its
heat pump technology " involves using
electrical energy to raise low-temperature
thermal energy to a higher, usable
level. A standout feature of MAN's solution
is its use of toxicologically and environmentally
safe CO2 as a refrigerant
for the entire system-cycle, which allows
to deliver heat at temperatures of
up to 90C. Additionally, the solution enables
rapid power-balancing of the electrical
grid, supporting the integration of
intermittent power generation like solar
and wind. " The company added, " The
heart of Patola's heat pump system is
an oil-free, hermetically-sealed HOFIM
motor-compressor [Figure 2], which will
be manufactured and tested by MAN Energy
Solutions in Zurich, Switzerland. The
compression unit utilizes a high-speed
motor and active magnetic bearings,
enabling it to operate without requiring
a dry gas seal system and the complete
oil system. "
The German-based VSB Group, via its
subsidiary VSB Finland, recently said it
had obtained the necessary permits to
launch what would be one of the largest
hybrid wind-solar projects in Europe.
The Puutionsaari hybrid power facility, located
in the North Ostrobothnia region,
combines a 350-MW wind farm with a
100-MW solar farm. The installation will
feature 49 wind turbines, each with 7.1
MW of generation capacity, in addition to
the solar array. Seppo Tallgren, managing
director of VSB Finland, in a statement
said the hybrid nature of the project supports
the future application of power-to-x
technologies. " A comprehensive hybrid
[project] also enables other new technolOctober
2024 | POWER
ogies, such as the production of green
hydrogen, through more consistent power
generation, " Tallgren said.
Construction of the hybrid farm is expected
to begin next year, with commissioning
expected in 2028. Officials said
the facility will be connected to the national
grid without the need to build new
transmission infrastructure. VSB Group
said the project represents investment
of more than €500 million ($554 million).
Finnish officials have said such
hybrid projects that can utilize existing
infrastructure offer greater flexibility and
reliability to the power grid. VSB also
is working on other onshore wind projects
in Finland, including the 147.5-MW
Karahka wind farm (Figure 3), also located
in the North Ostrobothnia region.
Karahka will feature 25 Nordex N163/5.X
turbines and is due for commissioning
by year-end.
" Finland has a district heating system
in almost every town, which makes it
possible to reuse waste heat from data
centers. But the fact that major corporations
have all established significant data
centers inside the country plays a big
role in making this concept a success, "
said Irina Tsukerman, a geopolitical analyst
with New York-based Scarab Rising.
Referring to the Puutionsaari hybrid power
facility, Tsukerman added, " The wind
farm will be part of a hybrid wind and
photovoltaic park, which, once completed,
will not only be the largest renewable
energy project in VSB's history, but also
one of the most significant hybrid park
projects within all of Europe. "
Tsukerman told POWER, " These hybrid
farms and projects are becoming
increasingly popular in Finland for a few
reasons. They provide a stable supply
of energy throughout the year by combining
the
complementary
strengths
of wind and solar power. Wind turbines
can generate power at night and during
windy conditions, while solar panels are
most effective on sunny days. And FinMERCURY
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3. Germany's VSB Group is building the
147.5-MW Karahka wind farm in Finland,
which is expected to come online by the end
of 2024. Courtesy: VSB Group
www.powermag.com
11
http://www.hok.de http://www.powermag.com
pwr_october-2024

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