Valmet's control valves support energy-efficient and carbon-neutral heat production at the Lielahti power plant in Tampere, Finland.
Valmet has supplied Neles™ RE segment valves to electric boilers and district heating accumulators at the Lielahti power plant operated by Tampereen Energia in Finland. The valves regulate flows in the electric boiler and the district heating accumulator, ensuring precise control of the plant’s operations. This enables the customer to achieve energy-efficient and carbon-neutral heat production as well as flexible participation in the electricity market.
“The energy transition doesn’t happen by itself – it requires bold investments and reliable technology. We are honored to be part of delivering solutions that enable our customer’s shift toward zero-emission heat production. In this project, the electric boiler’s control valves are a small but critical part of a major environmental achievement. The electric boiler process demands durability and absolute reliability from the valves. We are very pleased that we were able to provide a solution that not only meets technical requirements but also ensures carefree operating hours for years to come,” says Mikko Barck, Sales Manager, Flow Control Business Line at Valmet.
The valves were delivered in spring 2025, and the start-up was completed in the third quarter of 2025. Inauguration ceremony of the electric boiler took place at the Lielahti power plant on November 27, 2025.
“This investment is a strategic step for us toward carbon-neutral district heating production. Electric boilers and thermal storage units increase flexibility and enable heat generation when electricity is affordable and emission-free. The reliability of the valves is critical, as they ensure precise process control and uninterrupted operation. We are very satisfied with Valmet’s solution, which supports both our technical requirements and long-term sustainability. This project is a concrete example of how the energy transition is implemented in practice,” says Erkki Suvilampi, Project Operations Manager at Tampereen Energia.
About the customer and the project
The Lielahti power plant is operated by Tampereen Energia, which is investing heavily in renewable energy and the electrification of district heating. The plant features two 50 MW electric boilers and two district heating accumulators with a combined water volume of 20 million liters. This approximately €20 million investment reduces the share of fossil fuels in Tampere’s district heating production to about three percent and supports the city’s Carbon Neutral Tampere 2030 target.
The electric boilers enable heat production when electricity prices are low, often during periods of high wind power availability. The district heating accumulators store heat for peak demand periods, improving flexibility and cost-efficiency.
For more information:
Mikko Barck, Sales Manager, Flow Control Business Line, Valmet
Tel. +358 50 355 8444
