District Heating Automation Expands Waste Heat Utilization

Valmet is delivering a district heating optimization solution to Okun Energia Oy’s Miilu heat plant area in Outokumpu, Finland, designed to automate heat production and network operations while increasing the use of waste heat from a local data center. The project combines digital energy optimization with bioenergy production to improve efficiency across a district heating network serving approximately 6,000 residents.

District heating remains a significant component of Finland’s energy infrastructure, supplying nearly 50% of the national heating market and exceeding 90% penetration in larger cities. Okun Energia Oy operates a district heating network spanning approximately 30 kilometers and supplying buildings with a combined heated volume exceeding one million cubic meters.

Data Center Waste Heat Supports Reduced Biofuel Consumption
The district heating system relies primarily on waste heat generated from a local data center alongside two fluidized bed boilers powered by locally sourced bioenergy. The data center provides a stable waste heat capacity of 3.7 MW, contributing to reductions in annual biofuel consumption of up to 50%.

Waste heat recovery from data centers is increasingly adopted in district heating systems as operators seek to improve energy efficiency and reduce dependence on combustion-based heat generation.

Okun Energia Oy’s total heating capacity reaches 55 MW, combining recovered heat and bioenergy sources to support demand across its service area.

District Heating Optimization Enables Automated Network Control
The delivered solution is intended to provide operator-independent control over district heating production and distribution processes. Automation systems in district heating networks use predictive models, weather forecasts, consumption patterns and production data to balance heat generation with demand while minimizing losses.

Valmet’s district heating optimization technologies are designed to optimize pressure control, supply temperatures and energy allocation across heat production assets, improving operational efficiency and reducing fuel consumption. The systems also support autonomous operation through advanced process control methods.

According to Nuutti Hakkarainen, District Heating Manager at Okun Energia Oy, the solution is expected to improve efficiency and maintain operational performance across the district heating network.

Advanced Process Control Reduces Energy Losses Across Heat Networks
District heating optimization platforms increasingly use Advanced Process Control (APC) technologies to continuously regulate network conditions and coordinate multiple heat sources. These systems integrate forecasts and operational data to optimize production while reducing heat losses and operating costs.

Valmet states its district heating optimization technologies can reduce fuel consumption through coordinated load control while improving pressure regulation and supply temperature accuracy. Typical implementations have demonstrated reduced heat losses and return on investment periods below one year.

The growing integration of renewable energy, thermal storage and industrial waste heat has increased demand for intelligent district heating management capable of balancing multiple energy inputs.

Automation Supports Long-Term Energy System Flexibility
Teijo Salonpää, Senior Sales Manager, Automation Solutions business area at Valmet, stated that digital optimization solutions help reduce overall costs through lower fuel consumption, more efficient energy use and standardized operations.

Energy optimization systems are increasingly deployed to support flexible energy production environments where waste heat, bioenergy and electricity-based generation operate simultaneously.

Edited by Natania Lyngdoh, Induportals editor, assisted by AI.

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