New era for district heating: Pipelife supports first PV-connected system in Finland

The Ruotsinoja solar park in Liminka is Finland's first photovoltaic installation directly connected to a district heating network. The groundbreaking project combines photovoltaic panels with electric boiler and heat pump technologies to deliver fossil-free district heating to the local community for most of the year. Pipelife Finland was commissioned to supply cable protection and UV-resistant conduit systems for the state-of-the-art solar field.

_{New approach to renewable energy production}

The Ruotsinoja solar park in Liminka, Northern Ostrobothnia, covers an area of 13 hectares and features nearly 14,000 double-sided solar panels with a total output of 9.5 megawatts. Commissioned by regional power supplier Oulun Seudun Sähkö, Ruotsinoja is Finland's first solar farm directly connected to a district heating system.

Approximately 30-40% of the energy produced is used for heating in Liminka, with the remainder fed into the national power grid. Thanks to this development, Liminka can now rely on fossil-free heating for up to seven months per year, covering up to 60% of the municipality's district heating energy needs. During winter, heat production is supplemented with renewable wood-based fuels.

_{Reliable solutions for energy supply}

Installation work for the Ruotsinoja solar park began in April 2024, with Pipelife Finland serving as the main supplier of cable ducts and conduits to the large-scale project. The installation features nearly 14,000 double-sided 700W solar panels that absorb radiation on both sides, maximizing energy capture.

"In ground-mounted photovoltaic systems like this, it is particularly important that the rear side of the panels is raised off the ground to make use of diffuse radiation," explains Matias Ristimella, Project Manager at Oomi Solar Oy, the project contractor.

In total, over 5.76 kilometers of cable protection pipes and more than 400 meters of flexible, UV-resistant conduits were supplied for the completion of the Ruotsinoja park, along with chambers and complementary accessories. Pipelife was selected based on the previous successful collaboration with Oomi Solar, the company's technical expertise, responsive service and competitive pricing offer.

"We evaluated the project together and were able to offer a more cost-effective solution for our customer's needs than originally planned. This laid the foundation for our continued cooperation," says Tuomo Savolainen, Electro Solutions Sales Manager at Pipelife Finland.

_{Continued support throughout the project}

Throughout the project, installation progressed smoothly without major issues or delays. Pipelife remained in close contact with the contractor and installers, responding quickly to technical adjustments as needed.

"In terms of construction, durability and maintainability, we wanted the pipes to be buried in the ground. Avoiding cable bridges or overhead walkways was a deliberate design choice, and this type of open field provided the perfect conditions," adds Ristimella.

_{Paving the way for greener district heating}

The Ruotsinoja solar park was completed on schedule at the end of 2024 and began operations in early 2025. The new solar facility is expected to cut the carbon dioxide emissions of Liminka's district heating system by 6,000 tons per year.

The Ruotsinoja solar park is part of Liminka's green transition, and the project has received funding from the European Union's NextGenerationEU instrument.