Finland completes first solar park connected to district heating network in Liminka

Finland’s first solar park that will connect to the district heating network is set to be completed in Liminka. According to Jukka Kaarre, the business director of Oulun Seudun Sähkö, approximately 30-40% of the energy generated by the solar park will be used for district heating, covering about half of Liminka’s heating energy needs. The company operates nearly 100 heating consumption sites in Liminka, 38 of which are single-family homes, with the remainder being commercial properties and municipal buildings.

The solar power system is estimated to be capable of heating 500 electrically heated family homes annually. However, in Liminka, solar energy will be utilized for district heating during part of the year, with any surplus electricity fed into the national grid. The company aims for the solar park, spanning around 13 hectares—equivalent to about nine football fields—to cover seven months of energy production for the district heating network.

Currently, next to Oulun Seudun Sähkö’s heat plant, a site is under construction that will feature a heat pump system powered by solar energy, electric boilers, and an existing cylindrical battery. Joni Pekkala, the company’s production manager, states that this new system will significantly reduce fuel consumption, allowing for completely emission-free heat production once operational.

Although the energy production relies on burning wood pellets during the winter months, researcher Tuomas Niinistö from the Natural Resources Institute Finland notes that wood-based fuels are classified as renewable. The emissions from their combustion are not considered, as they are already included in land-use sector carbon accounting.

Plans for a similar solar park project are in progress for Muhos, although no investment decision has been made yet. The 9.5 MW solar park in Liminka is being constructed by Oomi Solar Oy.