Anna Virrantaus, Author at Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd

Building Permit Granted for Finland’s Largest Battery Energy Storage System in Mikkeli

Osasto: 25.4.2024 by Anna Virrantaus

Neoen Renewables Finland Oy has obtained a building permit for a battery energy storage system in Visulahti area in Mikkeli, Finland. The planned battery energy storage system is long-duration and has a capacity of 120 megawatts. The system will consist of approximately 320 battery and transformer containers along with other equipment.

“The permit process was smooth, and the cooperation throughout the project with the City of Mikkeli has progressed excellently. Neoen’s 30-megawatt Yllikkälä Power Reserve in Lappeenranta, Finland, was the largest battery energy storage in Continental Europe upon its completion, and another battery energy storage with a capacity of 56 megawatts is currently under construction. We are delighted to start planning an even larger-scale battery energy storage system in Mikkeli,” says Project Manager Erika Forstén from Neoen Renewables Finland Oy.

The building permit issued by the City of Mikkeli became legally effective on April 18, 2024. The company leased a 6.3-hectare plot from the City of Mikkeli in September 2023.

“Green transitions projects are thriving in Mikkeli. For example several solar power projects are underway,” describes Program Director Jussi Heinimö from Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd.

The national power grid with significant connection capacity runs through Mikkeli offering good locations for electricity intensive operations.

Battery energy storage systems are used to balance the fluctuations in renewable energy production and regulate the frequency of the electricity grid to maintain its stability. Batteries serve as a fast-reacting backup power source.

Contacts

For inquiries regarding Neoen, please contact Ville Perttula, Tekir Communications Agency, tel. +358 50 523 6494, ville.p@tekir.fi

Jussi Heinimö, Program Director, Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd, tel. +358 40 544 0936, jussi.heinimo@mikseimikkeli.fi

About Neoen

Founded in 2008, Neoen is one of the world’s leading independent producers of exclusively renewable energy. With proven expertise in solar power, wind power and storage, the company plays an active role in the energy transition by producing and supplying competitive, green, local energy on four continents. After a six-fold increase in the last six years, its capacity in operation and under construction stands at 8.0 GW.

Neoen’s flagship operations are France’s most powerful solar farm (300 MWp) in Cestas, Finland’s largest wind farm (404 MW) in Mutkalampi, one of the world’s most competitive solar plants in Mexico (El Llano, 375 MWp) and two of the world’s most powerful large-scale storage plants, both in Australia: Hornsdale Power Reserve (150 MW/193.5 MWh storage capacity) and the Victorian Big Battery (300 MW/450 MWh).

A high-growth company, Neoen is targeting 10 GW in operation or under construction by the end of 2025. Neoen is listed in Compartment A of Euronext’s regulated market in Paris (ISIN code: FR0011675362, Ticker: NEOEN) and on the SBF 120 and CAC Mid 60 indexes.

For more information, please visit: www.neoen.com and finland.neoen.com

About Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd

Through developing businesses, travel and business environment alike Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltdreinforces the attractiveness of the Mikkeli economic area by supporting 1200 companies each year. The company employs 40 experts in a variety of fields.

The company implements the “Investment Promotion in South Savo” project, which aims to attract and promote investments in South Savo region.

For more information, please visit: mikseimikkeli.fi

Nordic Generation Oy leases a solar power area from the City of Mikkeli

Osasto: 25.1.2024 by Anna Virrantaus

Solar power plant investment moves forward in Mikkeli: Nordic Generation Oy leases a solar power area from the City of Mikkeli. The leased area enables constructing a power plant of up to 100 MW. The Suursuo power plant could generate electricity as early as 2026.

The City of Mikkeli and Nordic Generation Oy have entered into a land lease agreement which enables the implementation of a large-scale solar energy investment. The city has made an official land lease decision. The parties will sign the lease agreement after the appeal period has expired.

The area leased is close to 130 hectares and is located some 18 kilometres north-east of the city centre on a land owned by the City of Mikkeli.

The Suursuo power plant could generate electricity as early as 2026, says Marko Salmela, CEO of Nordic Generation Oy. How the solar panel solutions will be implemented is under planning. Also, the environmental and nature studies required for consents are underway.

– We can build a power plant up to 100 MW in the leased area. We will know the final scope of the project as planning goes forward. Furthermore, we are interested in leasing more land from other landowners. Electricity transmission capacity is well available in the area as both Fingrid’s transmission grid and Visulahti substation are relatively close, explains Salmela.

– The City of Mikkeli will lease the area for 45 years. The leased area is partly a swamp area and we have assessed the importance of the area for forestry as negligible, says Topiantti Äikäs, Director of land use and planning of the City of Mikkeli.

Several solar power projects have started after suitable land was found in Mikkeli area last year. Professionals from the development company of the City of Mikkeli, Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd. played a part in identifying suitable sites for solar power, marketing the sites to solar power companies, and helping the companies to move forward.

– This project increases the role of the Mikkeli region as a nationally significant producer of solar energy and will help new electricity-intensive businesses to locate in the region, says Jussi Heinimö, Programme Director at Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd.

The Mikkeli region has plenty of areas suitable for solar power production. The main power grid that runs through the city allows solar power plants and other electricity-intensive businesses to connect to the grid.

Further information

Marko Salmela, CEO
Nordic Generation Oy
Tel. +358 400 164 981
marko.salmela@nordicgeneration.com

Topiantti Äikäs, Director of Land Use and Planning
City of Mikkeli
Tel. +358 40 129 5152
topiantti.aikas@mikkeli.fi

Jussi Heinimö, Programme Director
Mikkeli Development Miksei Ltd
Tel. +358 40 5440 936
jussi.heinimo@mikseimikkeli.fi

Nordic Generation Oy is a Finnish company established in 2022, focusing on the development and project execution of wind and solar energy projects. For this project Nordic Generation Oy has established a separate company called Mikkeli S SPC Oy based in Mikkeli.

Nordic Generation Oy is owned by Nordic Generation Limited of the UK, which is cooperating with Octopus Energy Generation. Octopus is one of the largest European investors in renewable energy.

Nordic Generation focuses on the Finnish market where the company has implemented wind farm projects since 2021. The company aims to invest in renewable energy in a way that benefits responsible consumers, communities, and investors to improve the living environment.

Read more: nordicgeneration.com