Nuclear energy will power the Finnish district heating network
Finnish energy companies Steady Energy and Keravan Energia have signed a cooperation agreement to build a small nuclear power plant for district heating production. The city of Kerava is joining Kuopio and Helsinki, which are also interested in the project developed by Steady Energy.
As part of the cooperation, both companies will focus on selecting a suitable location for the future power plant and preparing a feasibility study. This document will include an analysis of the formal requirements, technical and financial conditions, and an assessment of whether a small nuclear power plant will be an appropriate solution to meet the energy needs of Kerava, where an extensive district heating network operates.
“In Keravan Energia, we have a clear strategic goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. We aim to minimize our emissions at a reasonable cost while ensuring the security of energy supplies to the city under any circumstances,” said Jussi Lehto, CEO of Keravan Energia. If the investment proceeds, construction of the plant could begin in 2029, with district heating production starting in 2032.
The District Heating Sector Requires Urgent Modernization
Worldwide, the energy sector faces the challenge of replacing aging combined heat and power plants, which have reached the end of their lifecycle. Long-distance heat transmission is difficult, forcing countries to modernize local installations. In Europe alone, there are about 3,000 thermal power plants that need renewal. However, new investments must meet strict emissions standards, which leads the sector to seek innovative, cost-effective solutions.
Patented Technology
The power plant will be based on the LDR-50 small modular reactor designed for district heating production, which has been developed by the Finnish research and technology institute VTT since 2020. This reactor is designed to operate at temperatures around 150°C and pressures below 10 bars (145 psi). The reactor module consists of two co-axial pressure vessels, and the space between them is partly filled with water. The system does not rely on electricity or any moving mechanical parts that could fail and prevent cooling. This solution was patented in 2021.
In June 2024, Steady Energy announced it is starting the process of selecting a location for the construction of a full-scale model of its LDR-50 reactor. Cities such as Helsinki, Kuopio, Espoo, and Lahti are being considered. The model will be an accurate replica in terms of thermal flows, though without using nuclear fuel. Heat will be generated using electric heaters. Construction of this model is set to begin next year.
Source: nuclear.pl