Automation retrofit for Alholmens Kraft’s biopower plant

Above: Pietarsaari site. AK1 right. AK2 centre

Valmet is to replace an existing third-party automation system at Oy Alholmens Kraft Ab’s AK1 power plant unit, Pietarsaari, western Finland, with a Valmet DNA automation system. Hand over is scheduled for November 2023.

“Our other power plant unit, AK2, which is one of the world’s largest biomass-fired combined heat and power plants, has been run reliably with Valmet DNA since its startup in 2001. Now we want to have the same system for our AK1 unit, too. After the retrofit, we will have only one automation system throughout the entire plant,” said Johannes O¨stman, automation engineer, Oy Alholmens Kraft Ab.

“Having only one automation system makes support and future updates easier for the customer. Valmet has extensive experience and knowhow in replacing other suppliers’ automation systems,” noted Tom Ba¨ckman, sales manager, automation systems business line, Valmet.

Close co-operation between Alholmens Kraft and Valmet goes back several decades, with one of one of the latest projects being a Valmet DNA turbine automation retrofit at AK2 in 2022.

The Alholmens Kraft biopower plant is located on the site of the UPM Pietarsaari pulp mill. AK1 was completed in 1986 and has an electrical installed capacity of 35 MW, with a thermal capacity of 150 MW. It runs on wood-based fuels.