VILPE improves the management of energy flows with major investment in ground source energy

management of energy flows

VILPE Oy is making a major investment in improving the management of energy flows in its Mustasaari factory by replacing oil with ground source energy. This is apparently the first time that waste heat from production machinery can be used efficiently for heating properties. At the same time, efficient cooling and heat storage are combined with the system.

VILPE Oy, a manufacturer of ventilation and special roofing supplies, is replacing oil with ground source heat pumps. The new solutions differ from the conventional ground source power plant, and are being introduced in order to make full use of waste heat from plastic manufacturing machines. This would not be possible without an idea from Tammi Kiinteistötekniikka in Vaasa.

“The new solution will make almost full use of waste heat and store it in the ground. In a nutshell, it is a question of managing waste heat and energy flows for the entire factory”, says Tammi Kiinteistötekniikka managing director Juhani Tammi.

Waste heat is already used for heating the VILPE plant, but investing in ground source energy is a leap forward.

“In the past, waste heat energy could not be used in the summer, but now it can be stored for the autumn and winter in the bedrock. VILPE’s solution is technically interesting. By connecting a heat pump to the same system, we can now use the excess heat produced by the plastic manufacturing machines much more efficiently”, says Granlund regional office manager Kai-Kristian Vimpari.

“With the new type of connection, the heat pump can be controlled in a more versatile way so that the power of the entire heat pump can be used for cooling. This allows waste heat to be recovered more effectively”, says Tammi Kiinteistötekniikka energy specialist Mikko Pieskä.

VILPE has invested more than one million euros in reducing energy consumption

The transition to ground source energy is part of the expansion of VILPE’s machine hall, which will be completed by the end of this year. With the purchase of new plastic manufacturing machines, more cooling is needed.

The value of the investment is approximately 600,000 euros. A quarter of this amount is covered by a grant from Business Finland, as the project involves the use of new technologies for the management of energy flows and the improvement in energy efficiency.

“The aim is to install the wells by the end of November. Next summer we’ll see how well they work for cooling. The winter of 2021–2022 will show how well the system operates in cold weather”, according to VILPE technical director Timo Anttila.

However, there is high confidence that the system will work, as the implementation has been carefully designed in many ways, such as by testing the ability of the wells to store heat. This thermal response test, carried out at the University of Vaasa, revealed that heat wells store heat reasonably well.

CO2 emissions will be significantly reduced when the system is put into operation. Approximately 100,000 litres of oil are consumed annually for property heating, which corresponds to 270 tonnes of CO2 emissions. However, the electricity needed by the ground source power plant results in CO2 emissions of about 60 tonnes. Despite this, the investment is profitable, as the switch away from oil will reduce CO2 emissions by 210 tonnes. In addition, CO2 emissions will be reduced by at least 120 tonnes due to the removal of the current electric heating system and to free cooling. The total emission reduction will therefore be 330 tonnes per year.

When ground source energy is included in these calculations, VILPE’s investments to reduce energy consumption amount to 1.25 million euros. For example, there are 1,040 solar panels on the roof of the property, and lighting has been replaced by smart LED lighting that can be controlled as needed. Ground source energy is the largest of the investments, however.

“Utilising renewable energy is part of our strategy. Companies have a responsibility to act for the good of the environment. In order to keep production in Finland, we need to do things better than they are done elsewhere. Ecologically produced products are a competitive advantage”, says VILPE’s CEO Tuomas Saikkonen.

Emissions reductions by a ground source power heat plant (table)

MeasureCO2 emissions (tonnes)
Discontinuation of oil use-270
Switching from electric heating to water-circulated underfloor heating-90
Use of free cooling-30
Electricity consumption increased by ground source heating+60
Total -330
Thanks to the ground source power plant, CO2 emissions will be reduced by 330 tonnes

Infobox: VILPE’s ground source heat pump system
 A system has been designed for VILPE that is intended to recycle energy used by real estate and production as efficiently as possible in all situations. For heat pumps, this means sufficiently versatile connections and automation. In the case of heat wells, the correct grouping and drilling volume are essential not only for heat storage, but also for the generation of heating and cooling. Based on the thermal response test, simulations and energy use data, comprehensive efforts have been made to anticipate the risks involved in the project. 

Differences between VILPE’s management of energy flows system and a conventional ground source power plant

  • The recovery and use of waste heat generated by production processes plays an important role. The manufacturing of products begins with the melting of the plastic raw material (e.g. polypropylene). The melted plastic is sprayed and pressed into a mould, where it is rapidly cooled to its final form. This process has required cooling equipment. With the use of ground source heat, by contrast, conventional cooling units are no longer necessary, as the ground source heat pump can be used both to cool the plastic manufacturing machines and to heat the property.
  • The storage of heat in bedrock is not a new technology in itself. What is new, however, is that the stored heat is generated in the production process and is more efficiently stored. As the cooling need for the production process increases, both the heat generated by the use of cooling in the production process and the waste heat of the cooling machine (compressor heat) is transferred to the wells in the heat storage facility for wintertime use. This is a special feature of the system.
    • The diameter of the bore wells is 140 mm instead of the normal 115 mm. The wells are 300 metres deep, which is deeper than usual. These features are needed to ensure adequate system performance.
    • The positioning of the bore wells is different than in the conventional system, as the bore well field has two sections. One of these sections has more bore wells than usual, allowing it to be heated more effectively in wintertime. 
    • VILPE’s ground source power plant also enables free cooling or ground cooling. Approximately 50 per cent of the bore wells are used for free cooling. As cooling needs continue to increase, the condensate heat of the compressors can be channelled to the energy wells by means of automation, a separate changer, and adjustable valves (enhanced heating). The purpose of this is to heat the wells as much as possible for use in the coming heating season.

Learn more about VILPE’s Green Initiatives here.

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