Architecture that Blends into the Landscape and Provides Infrastructure for Daily Life

The Vuosaari Bioenergy Heating Plant is the latest addition to the Vuosaari power plant site in Eastern Helsinki. Owned by the local Helen Ltd utility, the facility has produced much of Helsinki's power and district heat since the 1980s. The new heating plant is part of Helen's push for carbon neutrality by 2030.

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The boiler and heat recovery system building seen from the East
Photo credit: Tuomas Kivinen

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The boiler and heat recovery system building double facade seen from inside
Photo credit: Max Plunger

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North view of the fuel handling system buildings
Photo credit: Max Plunger

The 260 MW bioenergy heating plant produces about a quarter of Helsinki's district heat, and reduces the city's carbon dioxide emissions by around 700,000 tonnes annually. The Vuosaari Bioenergy Heating Plant is an exceptionally energy-efficient combustion plant, with 122% efficiency. Although it does not produce electricity, converting it to combined heat and power production is technically feasible.

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The fuel storage building interior
Photo credit: Max Plunger

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West facade of the fuel silo
Photo credit: Max Plunger

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South view of the fuel receiving building (left) and the electricity spaces building (right)
Photo credit: Max Plunger

The bioenergy heating plant is the latest to be designed by Kivinen Rusanen Architects at Helen's Vuosaari site. It follows a planning period of more than ten years, during which different options for developing the power plant complex were studied in terms of technology and scale. Electricity and district heat production in Vuosaari started in the 1980s and has been continuously developed and expanded. From the outset, Kivinen Rusanen Architects has designed all of the buildings on the power plant site.

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The South facade of the laboratory and screening building with conveyors
Photo credit: Max Plunger

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Aerial view of the site from the southwest
Photo credit: Helifoto

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Bioenergy Heating Plant seen from Vuosaarenhuippu Park to the north of the site.
Photo credit: Max Plunger

The plant has two main parts: a tall, long boiler building, and a biofuel handling system. The boiler building houses the boiler and an advanced heat recovery system. Its staggered volume follows the heights of the different process equipment inside. The fuel handling part comprises buildings for receiving, screening, and storing the biomass fuel, together with a system of conveyors.

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Bioenergy Heating Plant seen from the West
Photo credit: Tuomas Kivinen

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Bioenergy Heating Plant seen from the West
Photo credit: Max Plunger

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Close view of the Bioenergy Heating Plant from the adjacent street
Photo credit: Max Plunger

The site layout prioritises logistics, process flow, and safety. Compact solutions in the arrangement and sizes of the buildings and equipment on the site were sought to leave room for future projects and logistical freedom. This can be seen in how close the new facility is to the existing plant, and how the fuel handling system uses technology that allows the different parts to be placed in a tight formation. Also, the legs of the long main conveyor are steel trusses with a compact square cross-section, minimising their footprint.

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The North facade of the boiler and heat recovery system building
Photo credit: Max Plunger

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The boiler and heat recovery system building seen from the Northeast
Photo credit: Max Plunger

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The boiler and heat recovery system building seen from the Southwest
Photo credit: Max Plunger

The project is a highly visible part of the Vuosaari harbour landscape. Its design sought to consider the plant's visibility from the new park on the Northern side of the power plant site, residential areas further away to the West, and views from the sea. On the other hand, the close views from Satamakaari Street, and the existing power plant facilities, were essential. The architectural objective was to ensure a high-quality design, construction, and finish so that the completed project would reflect its visibility in its surroundings.

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The boiler and heat recovery system building West facade and the main conveyor bridge
Photo credit: Max Plunger

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The boiler and heat recovery system building North facade
Photo credit: Max Plunger

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The boiler room interior
Photo credit: Max Plunger

The scale of the new buildings increases from the periphery to the centre of the plot. The tall boiler building is in the centre of the site, while the lower fuel handling buildings are on the western side, close to passing traffic and people. This is reinforced by the extensive landscaping of the high and steep embankment along Satamakaari Street, enhancing the street-level experience and softening the industrial character of the plant site.

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The boiler and heat recovery system building double facade seen from outside
Photo credit: Max Plunger

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The fuel storage building exterior
Photo credit: Max Plunger

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The fuel handling system
Photo credit: Max Plunger

Operationally, the Vuosaari Bioenergy Heating Plant meets one of the vital basic needs by providing the city with sustainable district heating. Its architecture aims to convey the value and importance of this activity.

Kivinen Rusanen Architects

Kivinen Rusanen Architects aims to create architecture that reflects the value of their clients' projects and their importance to society. They strive to show how their projects contribute to prosperity and well-being, strengthen sustainability, advance technology, and promote culture.