Helsinki District heating gains international renown
MEKThe Times has recently published an article on the district heating system of Helsinki. It was described as the "world's most sophisticated coal-fired central heating system", being functional and energy efficient.
Robin Pagnamenta, the Times journalist, describes the district heating system as ideal for an environment, where winter temperatures "frequently plunge to -30C". There is enough hot water for everyone, being piped directly to homes and public buildings along a network of tunnels, pipes and pumping stations. In Britain most homes have their own domestic heating boiler.
Pagnamenta assures, that the Vuosaari power station in Helsinki is a global model example of a well functioning heating system. Up to 93 percent of the energy produced is converted into either electricity or hot water for district heating. That makes it the most efficient power station in the world, says Marko Riipinen, director of district heating for Helsinki Energia.
Britain has a long way to go to reach a similar level of efficiency in their use of energy. Up to "50 per cent of the energy produced in power stations burning coal and gas is routinely lost as heat, usually emitted directly into the air via chimney flues", the Times article reveals.
However, applying the fantastic district heating system in other countries is not exactly straightforward. It requires the construction of an extensive infrastructure of pipelines. Mr. Riipinen informs the Times that in Helsinki the construction of the heating system began already in the 1950s and is on-going.
The original article can be read at:
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article6094009.ece
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