Valmet will supply an automation system for Helen Ltd’s Patola air-to-water heat pump plant and two electric boilers currently being built in Helsinki, Finland. When completed, the air-to-water heat pump plant will be the prime in the world with a full heating production capacity around 30 MW. The mission-critical Valmet Distributed Control System (DCS) enables flexible and efficient heat production, thereby reducing CO₂ emissions and bringing Helsinki, closer to a clean-energy transition. The system’s precise control of heat pumps and electric boilers also ensures stable heating prices for customers.
The Patola heating plant will enhance low-emission district heat with a new industrial-scale air-to-water heat pump (~30MW) and two 50 MW electric boilers. Using outdoor air as its heat source and CO₂ as the refrigerant, the heat pump operates efficiently even at -20°C. Together, they will generate over 500 GWh of heat annually, reducing emissions by more than 56,000 tonnes. Production is scheduled to begin in the 2026-2027 heating season.