Helen earmarks 3 sites for possible nuke power plant in Helsinki

Energy company Helen initially has selected three sites for further assessment to set up a potential nuclear power plant in Helsinki, said the City of Helsinki and the company in separate press releases on Thursday.

The sites are the Vuosaari and Salmisaari power plant areas and the Norrberget area in western Östersundom.

With the exception of Norrberget, the sites are already being used for energy production operations and are managed by Helen.

Helen and the City of Helsinki are looking into the possibility of building a nuclear power plant in Helsinki.

Helen launched the nuclear energy programme last year has now selected three potential power plant sites for further assessment.

The aim of Helen's nuclear energy programme is to build a small-scale nuclear power plant that will generate a steady and stable supply of energy regardless of the weather, without carbon dioxide emissions and cost-effectively, thus strengthening the security of supply in Helsinki and Finland as a whole.

The next step of the nuclear energy programme is to launch an environmental impact assessment procedure for the potential power plant sites. The City of Helsinki is also preparing to launch related land use planning.

The final decisions on the site of the power plant will be made in the coming years on the basis of the environmental impact assessment and other studies.

The land use planning of the power plant site will be handled by the City of Helsinki, in addition to which the site will need to be approved by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority. 

“Our studies have shown that small-scale nuclear power is the best way to achieve carbon-free, cost-effective, environmentally friendly, non-combustible, stable and reliable energy production. The more detailed assessments that are now being launched will determine the suitability of the selected potential sites for the plant, and as part of the process we want to hear the views of Helsinki residents on the project and the site options,” said Helen´s Chief Executive Officer Olli Sirkka.

The options selected by Helen for further assessment are plant types that generate heat only and electricity alongside heat, which can be built in the district heating network area with moderate area requirements.