Fortum's Joensuu Power Plant Improves Efficiency with New Condenser Technology

Fortum Oyj has improved energy efficiency at its Joensuu combined heat and power (CHP) plant in eastern Finland through the implementation of a new flue-gas condenser technology. The condenser, operational since October 2015, has reduced the plant's fuel demand and also decreased sulphur and particle emissions.

The Joensuu plant supplies district heating to approximately 42,000 residents and electricity to the national grid. Over 70% of its energy production relies on renewable wood fuel, supplemented by peat and biogas from a nearby landfill. The newly installed condenser increases the plant's heat capacity by roughly 30 megawatts (MW) and is projected to save about 140 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of fuel annually.

Flue-gas condensing technology recovers heat from the moist exhaust gases produced during solid fuel combustion. By lowering the temperature of the flue gas using scrubbing water, steam condenses into liquid, releasing thermal energy. This recovered heat is then transferred to the district heating system. This process directly reduces the fuel required by the power plant and other boilers, thereby lowering carbon dioxide emissions.

In addition to CO2 reduction, the flue-gas condenser also lowers sulphur and particle emissions, as the flue gases pass through a wet scrubber. This system separates solid matter and reduces acidic gases, particularly sulphur oxides. The Joensuu CHP plant's total heat production capacity is now 130 MW, with an electricity production capacity of 50 MW.