Continuous electricity distribution for food factories is a must in order for the Finnish food supply to run without interruptions. Valio's dairy plants are generally in operation all the time, as milk is delivered to the factories every day around the clock. That's why uninterrupted electricity supply is a prerequisite for the operation of Valio's factories.
Valio has two production plants in Riihimäki, a snack plant completed in 2017 and the Herajoki dairy plant, which has been operating since the late 1960s, and was previously known as Riihimäki dairy. The Herajoki plant produces milk, buttermilk and cream. The new snack factory produces yogurt for domestic use and for export as well as plant based Oddlygood® goods.
At Riihimäki, electricity is needed in operating the equipment and in cooling the milk. Heat is needed, for example, in the heat treatment of the fresh products, in washing and in heating the properties.
Adven has been producing energy as a service for Valio in Riihimäki since 2003. The biofuel plant, located at the plant area, was commissioned by Adven in 2009. The efficiency of a new electric boiler is much higher than the efficiency of the old natural gas boilers. The electric boiler will use carbon-neutral electricity in the future, which helps to further reduce carbon dioxide emissions by c. 1700 tons per year.
"In food production, security of energy supply is very important. Supplementing the current steam boilers with an electric boiler is an energy-efficient and reliable solution for Valio’s production", says Jussi Hirvonen, Adven’s Key Account Manager.
Adven is Valio's long-term partner and provides energy services at Valio's production facilities all over Finland.