Lämpövoimaloissa

Lämpövoimaloissa, often translated as heat and power plants or combined heat and power (CHP) plants, are facilities that generate electricity and useful thermal energy (heat) simultaneously. This dual-purpose generation significantly increases the overall efficiency compared to separate production of electricity and heat.

The process typically begins with a primary energy source, such as fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, oil), biomass, or waste. This source is used to heat water, creating steam. The high-pressure steam then drives a turbine connected to a generator, producing electricity. A key characteristic of lämpövoimaloissa is that instead of cooling the steam to condense it after it passes through the turbine (as in a conventional power plant), a significant portion of the heat is extracted from the steam for district heating or industrial processes. This recovered heat is then transported via insulated pipelines to end-users.

The advantage of lämpövoimaloissa lies in their improved energy efficiency, often reaching over 80-90% in terms of energy utilization, whereas conventional power plants typically operate at 30-50% electrical efficiency. This efficiency leads to reduced fuel consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy produced. They play a crucial role in providing reliable and cost-effective heating and electricity for communities and industries, particularly in colder climates. The choice of fuel and the scale of the plant vary widely depending on local resources and demand.