Wega Group Oy (Wega) and EPV Energy Ltd (EPV) have signed a letter of intent for the development of a gas-engine power plant project to be located alongside the circular economy facility in the municipality of Oripää, Finland. The main product of the circular economy facility, developed by Wega, will be liquefied bio- and e-methane, which will be utilized in industry, transportation, and energy production. The end product of the facility can be stored and used as the fossil-free primary fuel for the gas-engine power plant planned by EPV.
The gas-engine power plant would produce clean and fossil-free electricity. At the same time, it would ensure electricity supply during various disruptions and fluctuations in the availability of renewable, weather-dependent energy.
The estimated total electrical output of the power plant would be 40–50 MW. If realized, the plant would support electricity supply security and increase the flexible production capacity urgently needed by the electricity system during peak winter consumption periods, while also balancing rapidly fluctuating weather-dependent production. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is currently preparing a model for fossil-free flexibility, which, if implemented, would promote flexible, weather-independent energy production and storage.
The environmental permit process is planned to begin at the end of 2025. EPV Energy will be responsible for the permitting and planning of the gas-engine power plant project up to the investment decision.
“It is truly great that our long-standing cooperation with EPV continues with this significant project. The gas-engine power plant diversifies our circular economy facility project and further enhances the region’s energy self-sufficiency and security of supply,” states Wega’s CEO Niko Ristikankare.
“The role of wind and solar power is growing in the domestic energy sector, leading to market conditions that vary significantly with the weather. Finland increasingly needs electricity production capable of rapid adjustment and high output to ensure electricity availability regardless of weather conditions. Now that we have made significant progress in completing our major production projects, we are focusing on strengthening the flexibility of the energy system. In practice, this means significant investments in rapidly starting, flexible production, of which the newly signed letter of intent is a concrete example. In addition, we are investing in energy storage and the use of electricity in heat production. Increasing flexibility also strongly supports EPV’s The New Electricity Revolution strategy,” says EPV Energy’s CEO Rami Vuola.
For more information:
Rami Vuola, President & CEO, EPV Energy Ltd, tel. +358 10 505 5044, firstname.lastname@epv.fi
Niko Ristikankare, CEO & Partner, Wega Group Oy, tel. +358 50 347 2528, firstname.lastname@wega.fi
Illustrative rendering of Wega’s facility area (Picture Wega Group)