2/2012 - Fingrid

Regional grid planning in the Helsinki regionChallenge: growth and compactionFingrid’s regional grid plan for the Helsinki regionis currently being updated in a thorough manner.The representatives of the network company HelenSähköverkko Oy in Helsinki in the planning process are AttePihkala, who works in network planning, and Markku Hyvärinen,head of the unit for network development.“Helen’s network is connected to Fingrid’s system at severalpoints; it is a meshed, ring-like network. This is whyall solutions related to our network development must becarried out together with Fingrid,” says Markku Hyvärinen.What makes the development work challenging is that theHelsinki region is growing and becoming increasingly compact.A dense urban structure calls for new electricity transmissioninfrastructure. The projects require much preparationin issues such as land use and technical solutions.“New people keep moving to the Helsinki region, and newresidential houses and business premises are built. Eventhough the per capita energy efficiency has improved, thisimprovement only mitigates but does not cancel out the increasein electricity consumption,” Markku Hyvärinen pointsout.When more electricity is needed, more transmission capacityis also needed. One of the factors complicating networkplanning is the uncertain situation with the Hanasaari powerplant. The decision on the future of the plant will be made inearly 2015. Before that decision, preparations must be madein network planning for various alternative scenarios. Markku Hyvärinen (left) and Atte Pihkala say thatnetwork projects within a compact urban structurecall for much preparatory work, both in terms ofland use and technical solutions.A visualisation of the Kalasatama area adjacent to theheart of Helsinki. The area will provide a home for about20,000 people by the early 2030s.FINGRID 2/2012 | 24