Abloy's Joensuu factory waste heat to potentially heat local homes

Caverion Oyj will deliver a new energy system to Abloy's factory in Joensuu, Finland, as part of an investment valued at approximately EUR 2.3 million. The project is expected to be completed by 2028.

The core of the investment is a new energy center utilizing heat pump technology to recover waste heat generated by the factory's production processes. Caverion will also install a cooling network for the facility and upgrade its heat recovery and ventilation systems, aiming to enhance energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

Recovered waste heat will be used for the factory's internal heating needs. Any surplus heat can be fed into the local energy company's district heating network. Abloy's Sustainability Manager, Enssi Savolainen, estimates that the investment will result in annual energy savings equivalent to heating around 200 detached homes.

It is anticipated that the factory's surplus heat could meet the annual heating needs of over 50 detached homes via the district heating network. Harri Sarkkinen, Caverion's Head of the Joensuu Region, highlighted that utilizing industrial waste heat is an efficient method to improve energy efficiency and cut emissions without consuming additional primary energy. The new system will employ natural refrigerants with a low global warming potential.