popular articles

The largest Sand Battery optimizes Finnish district heating

This thermal storage infrastructure, combined with Elisa’s optimization, illustrates how energy flexibility helps reduce emissions and stabilize the electrical grid within a context of increasing district heating electrification.

Please share:

Loviisan Lämpö, a Finnish district heating company, is now operating the largest Sand Battery to produce cleaner heating energy. This facility aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, while storing renewable energy as heat. The system consists of thousands of tons of heated sand, capable of retaining heat for extended periods. The operators assert that this setup helps reduce pollutant emissions, relying on electricity from low-carbon sources.

A system designed for energy flexibility

The technical solution for this thermal storage was developed by Polar Night Energy, a company based in Tampere. Its goal is to provide district heating companies with a system that allows them to store energy efficiently and use it during periods of high demand. According to Loviisan Lämpö, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions could decrease by 70% in the Pornainen network, representing a reduction of about 160 tons per year. However, optimizing the charge and discharge cycle remains a major challenge to ensure the project’s economic viability.

Elisa, a Finnish telecom operator and international digital services provider, brings its artificial intelligence (AI) technology to automate the Sand Battery’s flexibility offering. This solution identifies optimal times to power the system with electricity or, conversely, reduce consumption when the grid requires it. Fingrid, the Transmission System Operator (TSO) in Finland, remunerates entities capable of stabilizing energy production and consumption. Implementing this mechanism would allow district heating operators to limit the purchase of traditional fuels.

The importance of AI in storage management

According to Jukka-Pekka Salmenkaita, VP in charge of AI at Elisa, the flexibility provided by thermal storage is crucial for the future of the energy sector. The AI continuously calculates changes in electricity prices as well as production forecasts, in order to optimize the Sand Battery’s charging. This automated control facilitates the injection of energy during periods of overproduction, especially when wind production exceeds demand. In such a scenario, the heating company is paid to consume more electricity and help balance the grid.

On its side, Polar Night Energy emphasizes the need to further electrify heating to reduce the share of fossil fuels. Liisa Naskali, COO of the company, points out that the ability to participate in reserve markets is an important lever to encourage this transition. In the event of an unexpected drop in electricity production or a power plant shutdown, the Sand Battery can halt its consumption and continue to provide heat through stored energy. Operators see not only an environmental benefit but also a way to secure their long-term revenue.

A solution suited to the Finnish context

Figures for carbon neutrality in Finland’s electricity already reach 94%, according to official data from Finnish Energy. This context further justifies moving toward the electrification of heating, still a major source of emissions. The Pornainen facility, which includes a steel cylinder 15 meters in diameter and 13 meters tall, has a power capacity of 1 MW (megawatt) and a thermal storage capacity of 100 MWh (megawatt-hour). These specifications make it possible to cover multiple days, or even several weeks of usage, depending on requirements.

Mikko Paajanen, CEO of Loviisan Lämpö, believes that revenues from reserve market participation ensure solid profitability for the Sand Battery. Elisa’s expertise in electrical optimization is based on extensive market experience, where price fluctuations demand constant adjustments. The company uses an optimization algorithm to determine, in real time, when it is more advantageous to consume or reduce consumption. Construction work is progressing, and commissioning is scheduled after the final tests, which will focus on the storage system’s efficiency and operational performance.

Register free of charge for uninterrupted access.

Publicite

Recently published in

METLEN Energy & Metals and Glenfarne Asset Company announce the acquisition of a portfolio of solar and battery energy storage projects in Chile, with an installed capacity of 588 MW and storage capacity of 1,610 MWh.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Iberdrola have signed loans worth €108 million to finance improvements to the Valdecañas hydroelectric complex in Spain, aiming to boost energy security and integrate renewable energy sources.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Iberdrola have signed loans worth €108 million to finance improvements to the Valdecañas hydroelectric complex in Spain, aiming to boost energy security and integrate renewable energy sources.
The Office National de l’Électricité et de l’Eau potable launches a large-scale storage programme to absorb production fluctuations from renewable sources.
The Office National de l’Électricité et de l’Eau potable launches a large-scale storage programme to absorb production fluctuations from renewable sources.
Backed by Meridiam, Verkor's Dunkirk facility begins testing ahead of planned production launch in early 2026, with Renault as a primary client.
Backed by Meridiam, Verkor's Dunkirk facility begins testing ahead of planned production launch in early 2026, with Renault as a primary client.
Indexel Engineering partners with UNIGRID to bring 50 MWh of sodium-ion batteries to India, targeting industrial facilities and decentralised storage projects starting in the second half of 2025.
US-based Eos Energy enters the UK market through a memorandum of understanding with Frontier Power covering 5 GWh of long-duration energy storage under the new cap and floor scheme.
US-based Eos Energy enters the UK market through a memorandum of understanding with Frontier Power covering 5 GWh of long-duration energy storage under the new cap and floor scheme.
EVLO and Eastern Power Solutions have completed the commissioning of a 4 MW solar-plus-storage installation on the island of Tutuila, marking the launch of a 10 MW project aimed at strengthening the local power grid.
EVLO and Eastern Power Solutions have completed the commissioning of a 4 MW solar-plus-storage installation on the island of Tutuila, marking the launch of a 10 MW project aimed at strengthening the local power grid.
Driven by rising grid resilience demands and renewable energy growth, the US battery storage market is set to expand at 26.8% annually through 2029.
Driven by rising grid resilience demands and renewable energy growth, the US battery storage market is set to expand at 26.8% annually through 2029.
Chinese firm Sinexcel has launched a logistics station equipped with a hybrid lithium-sodium system, marking a global first in integrating grid-connected energy storage with urban drone logistics.
German company green flexibility is building a 90 MWh battery storage facility in Obergünzburg to improve regional grid stability by the end of 2026.
German company green flexibility is building a 90 MWh battery storage facility in Obergünzburg to improve regional grid stability by the end of 2026.
TagEnergy and Banque des Territoires launch a three-year investment partnership to co-finance several battery storage projects, including France’s largest facility located in Cernay-lès-Reims.
TagEnergy and Banque des Territoires launch a three-year investment partnership to co-finance several battery storage projects, including France’s largest facility located in Cernay-lès-Reims.
The Thacker Pass mine site, led by Lithium Americas and General Motors, launches with major public funding and national industrial ambitions for lithium supply in the United States.
The Thacker Pass mine site, led by Lithium Americas and General Motors, launches with major public funding and national industrial ambitions for lithium supply in the United States.
Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt will lay off more than half its workforce while partially maintaining operations during the bankruptcy process initiated in March.
Sungrow will supply its liquid-cooled PowerTitan 2.0 system for the Kalanti BESS project, a 50 MW/100 MWh facility developed by Renewable Power Capital in southwest Finland.
Sungrow will supply its liquid-cooled PowerTitan 2.0 system for the Kalanti BESS project, a 50 MW/100 MWh facility developed by Renewable Power Capital in southwest Finland.
Inlyte Energy and HORIEN have entered into an agreement to accelerate the large-scale production of iron-sodium batteries, with a first facility planned in the United States by 2027.
Inlyte Energy and HORIEN have entered into an agreement to accelerate the large-scale production of iron-sodium batteries, with a first facility planned in the United States by 2027.
TotalEnergies has started construction on six new battery projects in Germany, representing 221 MW of capacity and a €160mn investment, strengthening its presence in the German power market.
TotalEnergies has started construction on six new battery projects in Germany, representing 221 MW of capacity and a €160mn investment, strengthening its presence in the German power market.
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners has signed a strategic agreement with GC Storage Services to develop 2.3 GW of battery storage capacity across northern and southern Italy.
Energy Vault has completed the acquisition of the Stoney Creek energy storage system, a project supported by a long-term contract, further strengthening its position in the energy storage sector in Australia.
Energy Vault has completed the acquisition of the Stoney Creek energy storage system, a project supported by a long-term contract, further strengthening its position in the energy storage sector in Australia.
Jupiter Power has secured $286 million in financing to support the construction of two large-scale battery energy storage projects in the United States, with commercial operations expected to begin this year.
Jupiter Power has secured $286 million in financing to support the construction of two large-scale battery energy storage projects in the United States, with commercial operations expected to begin this year.
Harmony Energy has completed the sale of a 200 MW battery energy storage project to EDF Renewables Polska, strengthening its position in the Polish market while supporting the country’s energy transition.
Harmony Energy has completed the sale of a 200 MW battery energy storage project to EDF Renewables Polska, strengthening its position in the Polish market while supporting the country’s energy transition.
Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt has filed for bankruptcy, citing financial difficulties exacerbated by market instability and rising costs. This bankruptcy raises questions about the viability of European battery production in the face of Asian competition.
Billion Watts Technologies Co., Ltd. and Shinshin Credit Corporation have commissioned a 64 MW energy storage facility in March, enhancing Taiwan’s power grid stability and supporting the increasing integration of renewable energy.
Billion Watts Technologies Co., Ltd. and Shinshin Credit Corporation have commissioned a 64 MW energy storage facility in March, enhancing Taiwan’s power grid stability and supporting the increasing integration of renewable energy.
The U.S. lead battery industry supports 106,050 direct jobs and generates annual economic output reaching USD 35 billion, according to a recent independent economic analysis focusing on 2023 data.
The U.S. lead battery industry supports 106,050 direct jobs and generates annual economic output reaching USD 35 billion, according to a recent independent economic analysis focusing on 2023 data.
The United States has reached a record amount of battery storage, totaling 19 gigawatts in its finalization phase. Sustained investments and regional strategies confirm the rapid growth of this market, which is essential for the reliability of the electric grid.
The United States has reached a record amount of battery storage, totaling 19 gigawatts in its finalization phase. Sustained investments and regional strategies confirm the rapid growth of this market, which is essential for the reliability of the electric grid.

Advertising