Valmet optimizes energy use at chemicals plant

Finnish energy solutions firm Valmet is to supply an energy management system to optimize production and energy consumption at a chemical plant. Valmet will start installing the solution at Kemira Chemicals’ bleaching plants in Äetsä and Joutseno in Finland this month, with commissioning due in May next year. “The new solution will enable us to combine electricity purchasing and production planning in Äetsä and Joutseno,” said Ilkka Palsola, Project Manager at Kemira Chemicals. “Thanks to the system’s calculation model, our plants will be able to optimize production at the right time, according to electricity price variations. We will gain significant electricity cost savings at an annual level.” Tiina Stenvik, director of Performance Solutions at Valmet, said the solution is based on the company’s existing production optimization system developed for energy production plants.