Modern energy systems demand balance – Valmet’s automation makes it possible for Vantaan Energia

Like other energy producers, Vantaan Energia was already facing increasing pressure to maintain system balance. The green transition was driving rapid growth in renewable electricity generation, while traditional production was declining, and electricity consumption continued to rise. As a result, maintaining balance across an increasingly diverse and evolving production portfolio had become more complex.

Vantaan Energia's Martinlaakso power plant is one of the company's key production facilities, where advanced automation helps optimize operations and support participation in Finland's evolving reserve markets.

In addition, on January 1, 2025, the European Union introduced a 15-minute imbalance settlement period (ISP), replacing the previous hourly model. In practice, this means production adjustments now need to be made four times as often, placing new demands on Vantaan Energia’s operational capabilities.

At the same time, Finland’s transmission system operator, Fingrid, emphasized the growing importance of reserve markets for securing supply and maintaining system balance, an area in which Vantaan Energia aimed to participate fully.

“We knew we couldn’t continue working as before in this new operating environment,” says Marko Lommi, Operation Engineer at Vantaan Energia. “To remain competitive and capture new opportunities in the energy market, we needed a new way to plan and control our production with sufficient speed and accuracy.”

To remain competitive and capture new opportunities in the energy market, we needed a new way to plan and control our production with sufficient speed and accuracy.”

Energy Trade Manager Jani Asikainen played an important role in identifying market needs and developing the commercial approach. He helped connect the commercial and production perspectives and clarified how market requirements should be reflected in operational planning. This alignment was one of the key drivers of the project.

That’s when the company decided to implement the Valmet DNAe Energy Balance Optimizer to enable this transformation.

From manual control to automation

Before the project, Vantaan Energia’s production control relied largely on manual work. The operation center planned production, and operators implemented changes across the different units by adjusting setpoints manually and coordinating via phone calls, Teams, emails and informal discussions.

With the move to the 15-minute settlement period, the same process needed to be repeated four times as often. With our five production units, that means about 20 changes per hour – and up to 60 when reserve activations are included. Every change also affects our district heating network, increasing the risk of losses.”

“With the move to the 15-minute settlement period, the same process needed to be repeated four times as often,” says Juha-Pekka Manninen, Project Manager at Vantaan Energia. “With our five production units, that means about 20 changes per hour – and up to 60 when reserve activations are included. Every change also affects our district heating network, increasing the risk of losses.”

Vantaan Energia's Project Manager Juha-Pekka Manninen stands before historical photographs of Martinlaakso power plant from the late 1990s, reflecting the site's long history of continuous development in a changing energy landscape.

The project’s goal was to implement a modern, automated production control system capable of 15-minute imbalance control across all plants. This would enable more efficient production while supporting full participation in electricity trading and reserve markets.

The benefits were clear: DNAe Energy Balance Optimizer would allow us to meet regulatory requirements, unlock new revenue streams and significantly reduce the manual workload. Improved control accuracy also reduces energy losses and increases overall production efficiency.”

“The benefits were clear: DNAe Energy Balance Optimizer would allow us to meet regulatory requirements, unlock new revenue streams and significantly reduce the manual workload,” Manninen says. “Improved control accuracy also reduces energy losses and increases overall production efficiency.”

Putting energy balance optimizer to work

 “Valmet was the only supplier capable of delivering a complete solution at the quality level we needed,” says Manninen. “The scope included system design, delivery and advanced control applications.”

Valmet was the only supplier capable of delivering a complete solution at the quality level we needed.”

The system has since been integrated into the plant’s Valmet Distributed Control System (DCS) and successfully commissioned for the Martinlaakso electric boiler and the waste-to-energy plant’s steam turbine. Valmet also provided comprehensive training to support the transition.

Project Manager Juha-Pekka Manninen (left) together with Valmet's Senior Sales Manager Teijo Salonpää in the Martinlaakso power plant control room, where real-time optimization helps balance energy production according to changing market conditions.

Today, Valmet’s DNAe Energy Balance Optimizer controls the connected production units in real time, balancing energy production based on market conditions. The system enables proactive anticipation of changes instead of reactive adjustments, improving performance.

Next steps include expanding the energy balance optimizer solution to additional production units and further fine-tuning it to optimally manage the company’s diverse portfolio.

Balancing markets, operations and people

For Vantaan Energia, project success relied on three elements: participating in electricity and reserve markets, increasing operational flexibility and elevating the role of operators. 

Development Engineer Kari Pulkkinen played a key role in the implementation and training phases. He prepared the operational documentation, managed the execution of processes and was responsible for training activities.

Not only did we want to participate in reserve markets, we also wanted to balance electricity and heat production. At the same time, we wanted our operators to move away from manual control toward higher-level supervision and ownership.”

“Not only did we want to participate in reserve markets, we also wanted to balance electricity and heat production,” Manninen says. “At the same time, we wanted our operators to move away from manual control toward higher-level supervision and ownership.”

Results have met expectations. Vantaan Energia can now fully participate in electricity reserve markets that were previously inaccessible. Operations remain stable even in challenging situations, and electricity production losses have been reduced considerably.

Results have met expectations. We can now fully participate in electricity reserve markets that were previously inaccessible. Operations remain stable even in challenging situations, and electricity production losses have been reduced considerably. In addition, our operators can now focus on higher-value tasks. Operator feedback has been positive, particularly regarding usability and training.

“In addition, our operators can now focus on higher-value tasks,” Manninen notes. Operator feedback has been positive, particularly regarding usability and training.

Vantaan Energia's waste-to-energy plant is one of the company's production facilities managed and optimized in real time by a digital energy optimization solution across the entire power plant portfolio.

Production control drives broader efficiency

In a combined heat and power system (CHP) like Vantaan Energia’s, production control connects all assets.

“By reducing production losses and improving coordination, overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) – defined by availability, performance and quality, can be significantly improved. Doing the right things at the right time directly impacts the entire system’s reliability and profitability,” says Manninen.

By reducing production losses and improving coordination, overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) – defined by availability, performance and quality, can be significantly improved. Doing the right things at the right time directly impacts the entire system’s reliability and profitability.”

The outcome highlights the value of a strong partnership, and the role advanced automation plays in helping energy companies succeed in an increasingly dynamic market.”

For Manninen, clear project direction and strong stakeholders alignment were key: "The outcome highlights the value of a strong partnership, and the role advanced automation plays in helping energy companies succeed in an increasingly dynamic market.”

Senior Sales Manager Teijo Salonpää from Valmet’s Automation Solutions business area confirms: "Over the past year, the Nordics energy industry has seen significant growth in the level of automation (LOA), and Vantaan Energia is one of the forerunners in Finland’s energy sector. The energy balance optimizer project customized for Vantaan Energia has been a highly positive challenge, creating added value through a digital solution across the entire asset in a complex, mission-critical environment without compromising core operations.”

The energy balance optimizer project customized for Vantaan Energia has been a highly positive challenge, creating added value through a digital solution across the entire asset in a complex, mission-critical environment without compromising core operations.”

This project is an excellent example of the benefits of Valmet’s digital solutions for customers. It is modular and enables efficient life-cycle management, allowing it to adapt to the customer’s future needs.”

Salonpää continues: "This project is an excellent example of the benefits of Valmet’s digital solutions for customers. It is modular and enables efficient life-cycle management, allowing it to adapt to the customer’s future needs.”

Valmet's Senior Sales Manager Teijo Salonpää (left) and Vantaan Energia's Project Manager Juha-Pekka Manninen at the Martinlaakso power plant, where a digital energy balance optimization solution has been successfully deployed.

As the energy sector in Central Europe also rapidly shifts toward a faster, decentralized model, the importance of this solution continues to grow. Valmet is well positioned to support customers through this transition by providing advanced automation solutions and acting as an expert partner."

"As the energy sector in Central Europe also rapidly shifts toward a faster, decentralized model, the importance of this solution continues to grow. Valmet is well positioned to support customers through this transition by providing advanced automation solutions and acting as an expert partner," Salonpää concludes.

At Valmet, the partnership continues beyond project delivery. Ongoing dialogue and customer feedback help shape continuous improvement and future solutions.

 

Have questions or would you like to learn more? Teijo will be happy to assist you:

Teijo Salonpää, Senior Sales Manager, Valmet
teijo.salonpaa(at)valmet.com