Valio’s Vantaa factory entered a new era in energy supply at the end of May, when the highly efficient electric steam boiler supplied by Auris Energiaratkaisut entered production use.
The factory’s existing natural gas boiler was retained alongside the electric boiler. It is used to produce steam during peak demand and when electricity is more expensive than gas. The steam the factory needs is always produced using whichever energy source is cheapest at the time.
Auris provides the steam needed by Valio’s factory as a service, optimising energy production and consumption hour by hour. In addition to fluctuating gas and electricity prices, Auris takes account of boiler efficiency, the time needed to start up and shut down the boilers, and rapid changes in the factory’s energy demand.
Auris controls steam production based on energy prices
An intelligent cloud-based application controls the steam boilers. It forecasts the factory’s future energy demand and provides guidance on reserving and buying the right amount of energy from the electricity market.
“When hourly spot electricity prices fluctuate sharply, we run the natural gas boilers during expensive hours to achieve the lowest possible energy production costs,” Auris Project Manager Henrik Palmén explains.
“For most of the year, the electric boiler can also supply all the electricity the factory needs on its own. This feature has become a very interesting option for many of our customers.”
Auris is responsible for the remote control and operation of energy production at Valio’s Vantaa factory, as well as maintenance and efficiency optimisation. Valio’s staff can focus on their own business rather than managing energy production.
The new electric boiler entered production use on schedule
Valio and Auris signed the contract for the electric boiler construction project in August 2021. The delivery phase lasted nine months. During that time, Auris carried out all the necessary electrical and mechanical modifications for Valio as a turnkey service.
“We dismantled Valio’s old decommissioned boilers and installed the electric boiler inside the existing boiler room,” adds Palmén.
Installing the new electric boiler required careful planning, including for the renewal of the medium-voltage electricity distribution system and the restricted equipment access routes.
“We installed a new distribution transformer with ventilation in a separate transformer building. When implementing the automation, we took account of the existing systems, integrating control of the new electric boiler, remote operation requirements and price-based control.”
Further information:
Henrik Palmén, Project Manager, Auris Energiaratkaisut Oy
+358 44 340 0362, henrik.palmen@aurisenergiaratkaisut.fi