Cleantech Oulu»Energy

Clean Energy

Energy sector operation has existed in Oulu since the late 1800s. The Oulu Region has long been a significant producer of waterpower. Oulu acquired a steam-powered electricity plant at the end of the 1880s. Only 50 years ago most of Finland's electrical energy was produced with waterpower. Today, depending on the water situation, waterpower's share is 10-20 %.

Oulun Energia is Finland's second oldest electricity plant and the fourth oldest in Europe. Its Toppila power plant represents modern technology with its combined back-pressure power plant and condensing power plant, which produces both electricity and heat from the region's peat and wood. The wood is primarily timber harvesting and processing waste, i.e. sawdust, chips, and bark. Toppila's power plant produces twice as much heat as it does electricity. The heat is stored in heat accumulators to be used as needed. A larger heat accumulator is situated in an underground rock cavern on the other side of the city. Stora Enso's Oulu paper plant produces most of its energy from biofuels originating from the plant itself.

 

(FIN) Energy Agency of North Ostrobothnia

(FIN) Oulunkaaren uusiutuvan energian yrityskeskus

(FIN) Bioenergia-ala Tornionlaaksossa ja Perämerenkaarella -raportti (pdf)