Lounavoima stores its excess heat at a depth of 2000 meters

GM2000

Lounavoima’s Waste-to-Energy plant in Salo, Finland wants to improve the utilization of the waste and the excess heat. This is being done by storing the heat in wells drilled to a depth of 2000 meters.

“Increasing the waste utilization rate and storing excess heat were on Lounavoima’s agenda already in 2018 when I joined the company,” begins Petri Onikki, CEO of Lounavoima and Salo District Heating. “It was known that the plant produced excess heat, and various possibilities for utilizing this heat were already being explored.”

While investigating the implementation options for the project, Lounavoima also explored the new well-drilling technology developed by QHeat. “This solution seemed most suitable for us, and once we received an investment grant from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the project really got going in 2021.”

Pioneer recognizes the risks

When something is done for the first time in the world, it must be accepted that not everything can be known in advance. “There were many uncertainties associated with drilling a 2000-meter-deep well. We started to drill with Geomachine’s GM2000 drilling rig, which was the first machine specifically designed for drilling wells of this depth. We knew that once we’d start using it, adjustments and configurations would inevitably be needed. Another risk when going underground is, of course, that you can never fully predict what you might encounter there.”

Despite the uncertainties, it was decided to proceed with the project. “We moved forward by minimizing risks as effectively as possible. We drilled the first well purely with the mindset that it was a demo well. Based on the data and calculations we gathered from the drilling process, we could then plan the drilling of the next wells.”

Decisions regarding the scope of the project were made as it progressed. “Once we had completed and partially brought three wells into production, it was easy for us to decide to drill the next three. We’ve always been aware that we are pioneers in this project, so we’ve approached it with caution. We’ve continued the project based on the results we’ve obtained during the work process. This approach has proven to be very effective.”

On track towards the goal

Lounavoima’s project has progressed as expected, and soon the fourth 2000-meter-deep well will be operational. “As we’ve gained more drilling experience with the GM2000 rig, the drilling time has shortened. In this project, every party involved has learned something new along the way and will undoubtedly benefit from this knowledge in the future.”

The project is well on its way, with only two wells left to drill. Once all six wells are operational, it is possible to start reaping the benefits. “Naturally, we expect the project to start paying for itself in terms of our business figures. We also hope it will have a positive impact on our district heating customers. In a situation where rising costs are constantly pressuring the energy sector, we hope that utilizing excess heat will help us keep our pricing competitive. Perhaps we’ll soon be able to offer a solution to district heating customers who want to source all their energy from environmentally friendly excess heat.”

A sustainable and smart heating solution for tomorrow

Lounavoima’s project is unique, as apparently nothing like it has been implemented elsewhere in the world before. “This project will surely serve as an inspiring example for all countries with high energy demands due to cold climates. In addition to storing excess heat, deep wells can naturally serve as an inexhaustible source of energy. Now that we’ve seen that drilling wells to 2000 meters is practically feasible, interest in this topic will surely grow.”

The numbers also support the use of geothermal wells. “Once we complete our energy storage system consisting of six wells, we will be able to heat 700 single-family homes annually with the excess heat stored in them. Utilizing the full potential of these wells will also have a direct impact on our carbon dioxide emissions, which will decrease by 2000–3000 tons annually. This is a very significant number for the Salo area, as opportunities for reducing emissions are quite limited.”

Boldly moving forward

The district heating industry is constantly seeking new solutions for transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables. Both nationally and at the EU level, there is increasing pressure to adopt greener alternatives. Public discourse also increasingly demands better consideration for the environment.

Petri Onikki encourages the energy sector to boldly explore and adopt the possibilities of geothermal energy. “I believe that the geothermal well project is worth considering for all energy companies looking to operate more environmentally friendly, cost-effectively, and competitively in the eyes of consumers. At Lounavoima, we have tested the functionality of this technology as pioneers, and we know that drilling 2000-meter-deep wells is feasible today with standardized and smart costs. Now that the solution has been proven to work in practice, it’s easier also for others to implement it in their own businesses.”

Interested? Contact Geomachine!