Vuosaari Bioenergy Heating Plant – ADC

Kivinen Rusanen Architects has delivered the new Vuosaari Bioenergy Heating Plant in eastern Helsinki, a key addition to the Vuosaari power plant site, which has supplied much of the city’s energy since the 1980s. The project forms part of Finnish energy supplier Helen Ltd’s ambitious plan to achieve carbon neutrality within the next decade.

Producing around a quarter of Helsinki’s district heat, the plant reduces carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 700,000 tonnes annually. The facility’s 260 MW output is achieved through an energy-efficient combustion process with a 122 per cent efficiency rating. While it does not currently generate electricity, provisions for future conversion to combined heat and power production have been integrated into the design.

The building’s planning spanned over the course of ten years, involving extensive studies into technological options and site scaling. Though based in central Helsinki, Kivinen Rusanen Architects is well-versed with the Vuosaari site, where the practice has designed every building since the 1980s.

The plant’s architecture is defined by two main components: a tall, linear boiler building and an interconnected biofuel handling system. The boiler building houses the core equipment — including the combustion boiler and advanced heat recovery systems — with its staggered massing reflecting the varying heights of internal machinery. Adjacent buildings handle fuel reception, screening, and storage, all linked by a network of conveyors.

A key aspect of the scheme’s brief was to provide a compact layout, allowing future expansion while maintaining logistical efficiency. The tightly arranged structures include slender steel trusses supporting the fuel conveyors, minimising their footprint and maximizing operational flexibility. Positioned near existing facilities, the plant balances functionality with spatial constraints, leaving room for future developments.

Vuosaari’s industrial presence in the harbour landscape demanded careful consideration of visual impact. Views from a nearby public park, surrounding residential areas, and the sea influenced the design. At street level, Satamakaari Street benefits from enhanced landscaping along a steep embankment, softening the industrial aesthetic while improving the pedestrian experience.

A double façade system, coupled with a neutral colour palette unifies the external appearance while concealing technical equipment and also mitigating glare and thermal radiation. Perforated aluminium composite panels clad the boiler building, combining lightweight practicality with structural and fire code compliance.

Extensive glazing enhances natural light in operational spaces, increasing safety and comfort for maintenance staff while softening the plant’s otherwise robust aesthetic. Meanwhile, corrugated steel sheeting adorns the fuel-handling buildings, offering flexibility for the complex array of smaller structures.