Flexible power generation and renewable energy solutions

The EEF was invited by Wärtsilä, one of its associate Members, to visit its main manufacturing and R&D location in Vaasa, Finland. The task of the EEF is to provide a place of information for MEPs and this multi-technology visit provided the group with an excellent opportunity to see the physical evidence of many topics covered in the EEF Dinner Debates over the past year including hydrogen cells, smart grids and some answers to the backing-up of transient renewable energy sources.

The welcome reception was held in the Governor’s house, where Mr Tomas Häyry, Mayor of Vaasa, explained to the delegation members the particular importance of Vaasa’s energy cluster, with more than 120 companies accounting for ¼ of Finland’s total energy sector manpower.

This first contact with Vaasa was followed the next morning by a brief introduction on the activities of the host, Wärtsilä, one of the leading energy companies of the energy cluster as a manufacturer and developer of very advanced diesel/gas engines for the power sector, shipping industry and other related services. One out of three large boats is powered by Wärtisilä large diesel engines manufactured in Vaasa or Trieste.

The visit to Vaasa was very timely in the context of the Commission’s Energy Roadmap 2050. Ensuring security of supply and competitiveness, while delivering the decarbonisation objectives is the main challenge for EU Member States. They made a few key observations on the roadmap and explained how their Smart Power Generation places itself in the scenario.

In order to maximize the use of intermittent renewable energy sources and to ensure a reliable supply of electricity, the future power systems need to include more capacity that is fast-starting, low emission, economic, dynamic and flexible. Wärtsilä presented its power solutions operating on various liquid and gaseous fuels, offering the needed flexibility and efficiency for back-up generation while limiting CO_² emissions.

The need for major investment, energy efficiency, the importance of research and innovation, the development of smart grids as well as emissions reductions and other environmental issues were key elements that arose during the discussions throughout the visit.

The group had the privilege to visit the engine laboratory with demonstrations of how a 2.7 MW engine can be started up in a few seconds with diesel oil and switch almost instantly to almost any kind of gas, while still delivering a stable power. Also interesting was the simulation of an instantaneous shut-down of the gas and automatic response back to diesel. The factory tour gave the group an opportunity to see how engines are built, tested and improved. In order to be energy efficient, the power and the steam produced by these engines are then used as energy supply for the city of Vaasa. The diesel engines supplying instantaneously electricity in case of emergency in a nuclear power plant has also been touched upon. While simple in appearance this requires a particular type of management of the engine.

During the last part of the visit, participants had the opportunity to visit a biomass gasification plant to generate heat and electricity for the houses of the area.

The Remote Control Centre located in Vaasa, which monitors Wärtsilä plants and engines all over the world, allows ships and power-plants owners to save 5 to 10% of energy by an appropriate on-line performance follow-up. The visitors could see the behavior of a drilling ship engine in Norway sea and a diesel engine in Hungary operated in cogeneration mode.

The Vaasa region in Finland is unique in the European green energy sector, as it hosts a large cluster of energy technology companies. Another EEF associate member, ABB, was invited to present its smart grid demonstration to the delegation.

The University of Applied Sciences of Vaasa also plays an important role in this energy cluster, by continuously feeding the need for research and innovation in the field and benefiting from the know-how of the industries in the area. One of the conference rooms of the university was the setting for an exhibition, where the members of the delegation had the opportunity to meet with some of the representatives of local energy companies that gave a short introduction on their activities followed by group discussions in a relaxed atmosphere.

The visit gave members of the delegation the opportunity to see how the energy industry in this area is adapting to the changing energy market and complying with the EU Energy Roadmap 2050, but also to listen to the concerns, demands and impressions of energy industry representatives regarding the current EU’s energy target.