EPV Energy decarbonises and stabilises Finnish energy production
EPV Energy is a Finnish energy company that generates and procures almost 5% of all the electricity consumed in Finland. With such a great responsibility come great deeds. The green transition is currently revolutionising the entire energy system. Climate change has prompted EPV Energy to switch to largely emission-free energy production in record time. As a chain reaction, much more balancing power is needed according to how much wind and solar energy is available. EPV Energy’s world-class projects are rising to the challenge.
The mine will be able to store up to 530 MWh of energy and it will have a charging and discharcing capacity of 75 MW
“We are currently focusing intensely on finding and developing new energy storage solutions”, says Niko Toppari, Development Manager at EPV Energy.
EPV Energy has several projects underway focusing on energy storage, which will bring continuous balancing power to the energy market. The company’s biggest star project is the decommissioned Pyhäsalmi mine, for which EPV Energy is planning a huge grid energy storage facility, a pumped-storage hydropower (PSH) plant. The mine will have an upper and lower reservoir, between which water will be pumped and run. Electricity is generated by letting water flow through turbines into the lower reservoir. But what makes this project so unique? At over 1,400 metres, it is the deepest mine in Europe and will be the highest drop height made in mine from the upper to lower reservoir in the world. The mine will be able to store up to 530 MWh of energy and it will have a charging and discharging capacity of 75 MW.
“This will be an important reservoir for stabilising Finland’s entire energy system. The project is now in the development phase and will be completed in three years after the investment decision is made”, explains Toppari.EPV Energy is also exploring the use of hydrogen as a long-term energy storage solution, which is considered important for reaching global climate goals. The company is currently working on a major Power-to-X-to-Power project, which will allow, if the investment decision is made, for green hydrogen to be produced by electrolysis and to be stored in large hydrogen storage tanks. The hydrogen can then be turned back into electricity by hydrogen-fueled motors. In addition, EPV Energy is building a 12 MWh electric battery at its wind farm in Teuva to provide instantaneous energy regulation. In addition to electricity, the company develops solutions for storing district heat in its areas of operation. EPV already has one large underground thermal energy storage facility with a capacity of 7–9 GWh in Vaasa.
