Finnish energy company Helen Ltd and the City of Helsinki are investigating the possibility of building a small NPP in Helsinki and have begun an assessment, the first stage of which involves examining three potential sites.
The sites in question are the Vuosaari and Salmisaari power plant areas and the Norrberget area in western Östersundom. Vuosaari and Salmisaari are already being used for energy production operations and are managed by Helen. The sites are located close to the district heating network. They were chosen using a multifaceted process involving the assessment of environmental, economic and safety considerations.
Helen’s nuclear energy programme envisages construction of a small-scale nuclear power plant that will generate a steady and stable supply of cost-effective energy regardless of the weather, without carbon dioxide emissions. The programme will evaluate small modular reactors (SMRs) based on proven solutions, which can be used to produce just heat or electricity and heat. The first phase of the programme launched in September 2024 focuses on negotiating with potential partner shareholders, evaluating plant suppliers and determining potential sites. This phase is due to be completed in 2026.
The next step is to launch an environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure for the potential sites. The City of Helsinki is also preparing to launch related land use planning. Residents will have the opportunity to participate in both the land use planning process and the EIA.
The decisions on the site will be made in the coming years based on the EIA and other studies. The land use planning of the power plant site will be handled by the City of Helsinki. The site will also need to be approved by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority and land use requirements of the NPP will have to be assessed.
Helen and the City of Helsinki are working together to start a dialogue with city residents and public authorities to provide all parties with as much information as possible about the project.
“The new Helsinki City Strategy states that we are preparing for the possible placement of a small-scale nuclear production plant in Helsinki. The land use requirements of the project will be assessed thoroughly and in a way that builds trust,” said Helsinki’s Land Use Director Rikhard Manninen.
“Our studies have shown that small-scale nuclear power is the best way to achieve carbon-free, cost-effective, environmentally friendly, non-combustible, stable and reliable energy production,” said Helen CEO Olli Sirkka. “The more detailed assessments that are now being launched will determine the suitability of the selected potential sites for the plant, and as part of the process we want to hear the views of Helsinki residents on the project and the site options.”
He added: “Electricity production in Helsinki would balance the entire Finnish energy system and the strong fluctuation in electricity prices by generating stable, weather-independent electricity for the southern part of the country, where coal-based electricity production has been phased out in recent years and where the demand for energy is also expected to grow significantly in the coming years.”
In November 2022, Helen and Fortum launched a joint study to explore the prerequisites for collaboration in nuclear power and SMRs.
In October 2023, Helen signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Steady Energy in order to facilitate investment in a small-scale nuclear power plant for the production of district heating. Steady Energy, spun out from the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland earlier in 2023, aims to build the world’s first district heating plant based on its LDR-50 small modular reactor (SMR) by 2030.
