The investment encompasses the implementation of a waste heat recovery system designed to harness the waste heat generated by a potential data center in Mikkeli. This recovered waste heat will then be utilized to supply the local district heating network through the utilization of heat pumps and electric boilers. The investment can be categorized into two primary components: the energy center and the network infrastructure. The energy center investment covers all expenses related to heat recovery, heat production, labor, engineering, software, and other necessary materials. Additionally, the investment encompasses the establishment of a district heating connection and necessary network reinforcements to support the heat recovery process.
The project aims to transition the energy sector in Tampere to become carbon negative. This involves capturing carbon dioxide from biogenic energy production and either permanently storing it or using it to produce synthetic fuel. The potential impact of this initiative is significant, with the potential to reduce climate emissions in Tampere by up to 380,000 tonnes annually, surpassing the current estimated residual emissions for 2030. By going beyond the climate goals outlined in the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan, the project aligns with Tampere's vision of achieving carbon negative heating. However, the implementation of the project is contingent upon national or European legislative changes to ensure financial feasibility.
The investment concept revolves around the establishment of a centralized cooling system for the GigaVaasa battery factory industrial park, which will cater to the cooling needs of future actors without the necessity of individual cooling towers for each factory. This centralized system is designed to significantly reduce water consumption throughout the entire industrial park. Equipped with industrial heat pumps, the cooling system will have the capability to harness waste heat, which can then be integrated into the district heating network of the City of Vaasa. During periods of low energy demand in the district heating network, thermal storage will be utilized to provide cooling to the industrial area, particularly during the summer months. The thermal storage and trunk network are engineered to accommodate future consumers, and the scalability of the cooling/heat recovery process is facilitated by the addition of extra heat pumps at the central control location. In its initial phase, the cooling system is projected to deliver approximately 70MW of cooling capacity, which translates to roughly 90MW of heating capacity for the District Heating network of the City of Vaasa. Anticipated growth in cooling demand is forecasted to reach around 200MW by 2035.