The Kymijärvi II power plant is a unique energy production facility in Lahti, Finland. This power plant, owned by Lahti Energia Oy, is one of the world’s first gasification plants that uses only recycled household and industrial waste to produce district heat and electricity. The Kymijärvi II is an example of high-quality Finnish energy knowledge.
Lahti Energia Oy is a self-sufficient and versatile energy company owned by the city of Lahti. The main products of the CHP (Combined Heat and Power) facility are district heat and power. Lahti Energia Oy was established in 1990 and operates two power plants: a coal plant Kymijärvi I, and a gasification plant Kymijärvi II. The next phase is to launch a bio heating plant, Kymijärvi III, in 2020 to replace the coal plant which will close due to sustainability targets during the same year.
Lahti Energia launched Kymijärvi II in May of 2012. The gasification power plant produces district heat 90 MW and electricity 50 MW for Lahti and surrounding cities. Being the first of its kind, this project is significant both locally and worldwide. This gasification plant has drawn significant attention abroad and serves as an example for the future of green and ecological power plants.
This power plant is the world’s first gasification plant that uses only recycled household and industrial waste as fuel, where the gas purifying technology is an essential part of the process. In the facility, only source-sorted household and industrial burnable energy waste from the surrounding city area is gasified. Kymijärvi II’s new era energy technology is developed by Finnish Valmet Technologies Oy (pre. Metso Power).
Makron came into the picture as the technology provider Valmet needed to supply manufactured cores for gasification towers. Makron manufactured the gasification reactors, grates and product gas piping based on Valmet's drawings with Lahti Energia. Makron’s associated company Solmex did the installation at site for the gasification reactors, product gas piping, coolers and filters.
Manufacturing of the 24 huge gasification tower elements in only 6 months’ time - each massive element 4 meters high, 5 meters diameter and weighted 20 tons - was a large project. The over 65 product gas piping elements were produced in the same timeframe. With Makron’s expertise in heavy fabrication and the geographical location of the Makron factory in Hollola near Lahti, they were optimal for the project.
In order to achieve perfect quality, the grate of the huge gasification towers had to be refractory lined with fireproof bricks in dry, indoor space; and the crystal water had to be dried out to minimize risks in energy production. This was possible in Makron’s spacious production factory where the welding, painting and drying was also done.
It needed some careful logistics planning to move the 24 massive elements from Hollola to the Kymijärvi II production site, safely and without harm to other road users. Luckily the distance between the sites is only 15 kilometers and the road is wide.
One of the most challenging phases of the project was installing the elements to the power plant. Workers completed the installation and assembly in -20°C freezing winter conditions. At the time there was no roof or walls to protect from the harsh weather, in over 30 meter height. “Yes, Kymijärvi II was in any matter a highly challenging project in every respect,” Ismo Nopanen, Development Engineer at Lahti Energia Oy explains.
The cooperation between Lahti Energia and Makron was close from the very beginning of the project, and the towers were completed with excellent quality in a short amount of time.
Ismo Nopanen
Development Engineer
Lahti Energia Oy
