Helsinki will fight the cold by installing the largest heat pump in the world: from -20 to 90ºC with monstrous savings

Helsinki to cut CO2 emissions by 26,000 tonnes per year thanks to world’s largest heat pump

Sustainable heating for Finland’s capital. The energy company Helen Oy will install in Helsinki the world’s largest air-to-water heat pump. Located in the Patola district, it will use electricity from renewable sources and ambient air to generate heating.

With two 50 MW electric boilers, the new Patola heating plant will generate around 200 GWh of heat per year, enough to heat around 30,000 homes in the Finnish capital sustainably and reduce the city’s CO2 emissions by 26,000 tonnes per year.

German technology. Designed by the German manufacturer MAN Energy SolutionsThe Helsinki megapump will have a production capacity of between 20 and 33 MW, depending on the air temperature. According to MAN, it will be able to operate at temperatures down to -20 °C using CO2 as a natural refrigerant in a closed circuit.

The heat pump will use ambient air as a source of thermal energy to increase the water temperature to 90°C and distribute it through the district heating network. Never before has such a powerful heat pump been installed for a district heating project.

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How it works. The heart of the heat pump is a closed compressor with a high-speed motor and active magnetic bearings that allow it to operate without the need for oil.

The pump uses electricity from renewable sources to absorb thermal energy from outside and raise it to temperatures of up to 90°C. It operates on demand and can help balance power from the electrical grid to support the integration of intermittent energy, such as solar and wind.

A key piece in the energy transition. Helsinki has set itself an ambitious goal: to become a carbon neutral city by 2030The new heating system will be a key element in the six-year countdown; it is not in vain that it is subsidized by the Finnish government.

The plant is expected to begin operating in the winter season of 2026-2027. Once completed, it will not only reduce emissions in the city, but will also create price stability for customers, since its output is easily adjustable.

Image | MAN Energy Solutions

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