Helen sets 2027 deadline for Helsinki nuclear plant decision

Helsinki energy company Helen aims to choose a site and design for a possible nuclear power plant by the end of 2027, Yle reports. It is assessing three locations: Salmisaari, Vuosaari and Norrberget in Östersundom.

Helen published its environmental impact assessment programme on Tuesday, outlining the effects it plans to study. The assessment will consider impacts at each location as well as those linked to construction.

Sea warming is a key concern

Helen says the plant’s most significant environmental impact could be warming the sea. A facility that produces both heat and electricity would discharge some reactor heat into seawater, which could affect algae growth. A plant producing only district heating would not warm the sea, the company says.

Salmisaari and Vuosaari are already industrial areas. At Norrberget, forest would have to be cleared. Building energy connections could also cause noise, vibration and construction traffic.

The assessment will also examine potential environmental benefits. Helen says replacing combustion-based energy production could reduce carbon dioxide emissions and truck traffic, and improve forest biodiversity.

Helen expects key choices next year

Helen is considering small modular reactors, or SMRs, which can be combined into a larger facility. The options under review include plants that produce only district heating and others that also generate electricity. The largest configuration could be comparable in scale to an old unit at the Loviisa nuclear power plant, while producing only a fraction of the waste heat discharged into the sea, according to the assessment figures.

The company expects a final plant to be ready more than a decade from now, but wants to settle the location and design by the end of 2027. Helen Nuclear CEO Pekka Tolonen said the coming year would bring major decisions.

Helen says nuclear power could help it end combustion-based energy production by 2040 and avoid relying too heavily on weather-dependent electricity for the city’s heating. The city-owned company has already replaced some combustion-based heat production with electric heating plants.

Helen will hold public meetings in Helsinki on November 16, 19, 24 and 26. The environmental impact assessment programme is also available for public comment through the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.