Valmet’s automation technology is set to play a central role in Helsinki’s clean-energy transition after the Finnish engineering group won an order to supply control systems for what will become the world’s largest air-to-water heat pump plant.
Valmet said on today that it would deliver its Distributed Control System to Helen Ltd’s Patola heating plant, currently under construction in the Finnish capital, alongside two large electric boilers. Once completed, the air-to-water heat pump plant will have a heating capacity of about 30 MW, making it the largest of its kind globally.
The project is designed to support Helsinki’s shift away from combustion-based energy. By enabling flexible and efficient heat production, Valmet’s automation is expected to cut carbon dioxide emissions and help stabilise heating prices for end customers.
Jari Maaranen, Engineering Manager at Helen Ltd, said the investment strengthened the company’s long-term energy strategy. He said the automation system would improve operational performance, support flexible production, and optimise the operation of both the heat pump plant and electric boilers to respond efficiently to changes in heat demand.
Tom Bäckman, Senior Sales Manager in Valmet’s Automation Solutions business area, said the delivery would provide advanced control and monitoring for a facility that is unprecedented in both scale and technology. He added that the system would support long-term reliability, efficiency, and lifecycle performance, while demonstrating how automation can underpin carbon-neutral energy systems.
The Patola plant will combine an industrial-scale air-to-water heat pump of around 30 MW with two 50 MW electric boilers. The heat pump will use outdoor air as its heat source and carbon dioxide as the refrigerant, allowing it to operate efficiently even at temperatures as low as minus 20°C. Together, the units are expected to produce more than 500 GWh of heat annually and reduce emissions by over 56,000 tonnes.
Heat production is scheduled to begin during the 2026–2027 heating season. The order will be recorded in Valmet’s fourth-quarter 2025 intake, although the company said the value of the contract would not be disclosed. The system is due to be handed over to Helen in March 2027.
Helen serves around 600,000 customers across Finland, supplying electricity, heating, and cooling, as well as energy solutions linked to renewables and electric transport. The company has committed to systematically cutting emissions, with the aim of phasing out combustion-based energy production by 2040.
Valmet, headquartered in Espoo, supplies technology, automation, and flow control solutions to process industries worldwide. The group reported net sales of about EUR 5.4bn in 2024 and employs more than 19,000 people globally. Its shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
