Successful completion of first phase commissioning of Valmet DNAe main automation system at ESE-Energia’s Pursiala power plant in Finland

ESE-Energia’s Pursiala CHP plant in Mikkeli, Finland. Photo: Kimmo Iso-Tuisku.

Benefits are already emerging

ESE-Energia’s Operations Manager Mikko Turunen, who serves as the project manager for the plant’s main automation system modernization project, says: “The first commissioning phase has been carried out successfully, and the benefits are already starting to emerge, although the concrete results will be measurable after the first heating season, in spring 2027.”

Turunen continues: “The new Valmet DNAe main automation system is expected to enable more efficient optimization of both production and the district heating network, thereby reducing fuel consumption and improving the overall efficiency of the power plant. This in turn leads to direct cost savings and reduced emissions. The new system will also significantly reduce manual process operation and provide comprehensive historical data as well as various optimization solutions for the plant’s processes.”

Operations Manager Mikko Turunen pictured in front of the power plant’s district heating accumulator and electric boiler, both included in the first phase of the Valmet DNAe commissioning.

Uninterrupted district heating supply

Production Director Lasse Lahtinen at ESE-Energia’s states: “The first commissioning phase has been carried out successfully. During the commissioning, the district heating network supply operated with 100% reliability and did not cause any significant unplanned production disturbances. We have more than 2,000 district heating connections in the Mikkeli city center area, and it was critical for us that our customers’ district heating supply remained uninterrupted throughout the commissioning period.”

Members of the Valmet DNAe system commissioning team, with ESE-Energia’s Production Director Lasse Lahtinen on the right. Photo: ESE-Energia.

When experience meets new technology

Shift Manager Tapio Haverinen is a long-standing professional who has been working at ESE-Energia since the early 1990s. He would have retired this summer, but driven by enthusiasm, he decided to continue working on the automation modernization project until the end of the year.

Haverinen says: “As a Shift Manager, I did not resist the change but instead welcomed the modern Valmet DNAe automation system. The Valmet DNAe is highly comprehensive, with an intuitive user interface that provides a great amount of information at a glance. Features such as historical data storage and its use in troubleshooting, trend analysis tools, and remote access capabilities are excellent advantages.” Haverinen still adds: “With the new system, operators’ workload has not necessarily decreased, but it has already now become easier. There is no longer a need to operate in manual mode.”

ESE-Energia’s Shift Manager Tapio Haverinen tested the DNAe system at Valmet’s facilities in Tampere in February 2026 during the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT). Photo: ESE-Energia.

A groundbreaking leap from 1990s technology to Valmet DNAe

Shift Manager Pekka Tapanainen, who is a newcomer to the plant but has over 20 years of experience with Valmet automation systems, has been involved in the DNAe project from the very beginning. Tapanainen describes: “The modernization of the plant’s main automation with the Valmet DNAe system is a groundbreaking leap from 1990s technology to the most advanced system on the market today.”

Tapanainen continues: “A modern automation system requires a shift in mindset for operators, as the role is no longer about direct operation but about monitoring key performance indicators.” He adds: “We now have this kind of optimization-driven system, which is what today’s complex electricity markets require.”

Project team members involved in commissioning the Valmet DNAe, from left to right: ESE-Energia’s Operations Manager Mikko Turunen and Shift Manager Pekka Tapanainen, Valmet’s Site Managers Ilkka Lotvonen and Rauno Nevalainen, and Shift Manager Tapio Haverinen from ESE-Energia.

Strong service support and fast response time

Operations Manager Turunen still adds: “The local presence of Valmet’s service organization was one of the key selection criteria for the system. In addition, a 5-year service agreement ensures a short response time in the event of possible disturbances, as Valmet’s service team can access the system remotely via a secure connection. 24/7 service availability ensures reliable system operation and optimal performance.”

Commissioning continues according to plan

Turunen concludes that the modernization project continues as planned and expresses confidence in the progress. He is pleased with the results so far: “The commissioning of the Energy Management System (EMS) has just begun. The experiences from the first phase of commissioning will be utilized in the future commissioning. The implementation of the new main automation system will be fully completed at the power plant by October 2026.”

In January 2026, the Valmet DNAe system’s display design was developed by ESE-Energia’s Operations Manager Mikko Turunen, Shift Managers Tapio Haverinen, Sami Lindholm and Pekka Tapanainen, and Operations Engineer Mika Tiitinen. Photo: ESE-Energia.

In December 2025, ESE-Energia’s Electrical and Automation Engineers Mika Manninen and Mika Boman, together with Electrical and Automation Technicians Jouni Nupponen, Jarno Martikainen and Ekku Korhola, participated in HIMA training. The training was provided by Valmet’s Training Engineer, Kari Kettunen. Also the safety automation system will be renewed with HIMA system, which will serve as the plant’s future safety automation platform. Photo: ESE-Energia.

 

For more information, please contact:

Pasi Voutilainen, Director, Performance Services, Valmet

pasi.voutilainen(at)valmet.com