Cornerstone ceremony held for Europe's largest electric boiler plant – AINS Group and Elomatic delivering Helen's project

 

Construction work for Helen’s clean energy investment has now begun in Hanasaari, Helsinki. The cornerstone ceremony on Friday, September 26, 2025, was attended by Mayor of Helsinki Daniel Sazonov, Helen CEO Olli Sirkka, and project personnel.

 

The plant, consisting of four electric boilers, will be built next to a decommissioned coal-fired power plant and is scheduled for completion in the 2026-2027 heating season. The complex will also include two thermal storage units.

 

"We have already replaced our decommissioned coal plants with new production, but our ambitious emission targets and the need to improve the competitiveness of district heating push us to raise the bar even further,” said Helen CEO Olli Sirkka during the ceremony.

 

The new electric boiler plant supports Helen’s goal of transitioning to completely combustion-free energy production by 2040. The plant will be capable of meeting the heating needs of an area equivalent to two Lauttasaari districts.

 

“Building the new electric boiler and its associated thermal storage units is a major development for the entire city and an inspiring project for us as designers and builders. Together with Elomatic, we are combining best practices from industry, energy production, and construction. Our team demonstrates comprehensive expertise in various design disciplines and site management,” said Anu Kuoppamäki, EVP, executive vice president of AINS Group.

 

The construction site, located along the busy Sörnäisten rantatie, is highly visible in the urban landscape. Building on a compact plot within an old industrial block has required meticulous planning.

 

“This project is unique for our entire design team. Its central location in Helsinki has been both an opportunity and a challenge. Urban design goals and demanding technical solutions have required extensive coordination and creative thinking. In designing the buildings, we’ve focused on solutions that soften the industrial scale and bring subtle depth and dimension to the architecture,” said Juha Lehtonen, lead designer and architect at ONE Architects, part of AINS Group.

 

AINS Group and Elomatic are responsible for project management, design, procurement, site management and supervision of the project as Helen's partner.