Boliden

Project description

Location
Harjavalta

Capacity
3.9 MWp

Solar panels
6 900

MWh annually
3000

From landfill to solar power

A decommissioned process waste landfill at Boliden Harjavalta has been transformed into the largest solar power plant in the Satakunta region. The solar plant has a capacity of 3.9 MWp, produces 3,000 MWh of solar electricity annually, and reduces the company’s CO₂ emissions by 267 tons each year. Covering an area of about 5 hectares, the foundations of the plant were built using recycled railway sleepers from VR. The facility’s electricity generation is powered by 6,912 solar panels and 12 inverters.

Our industrial site is a very special location for building a power plant. In this task, Solarigo succeeded perfectly — there was not a single remark regarding access permit procedures, nor did any safety deviations occur during the project. What exceeded our expectations most was the project team’s uncompromising compliance with instructions and the professionalism of Solarigo’s subcontractor network.

Jari Holmberg, Head of Electrical Maintenance, Boliden Harjavalta

Renewable solar power from a landfill

Boliden’s global strategy includes exploring opportunities for renewable energy adoption. At Harjavalta, interest in solar power emerged in the late 2010s, when the company’s industrial landfill areas began forming unified plots of land envisioned for solar electricity production. In the early 2020s, Boliden Harjavalta actively sought a partner to build a solar power plant on a reclaimed landfill.

The company wanted to reduce CO₂ emissions, invest in renewable energy, and reuse landfill areas. It also recognized that a reclaimed landfill is an ideal site for a solar power plant: vegetation cannot grow there, the ground is flat, and the location is windy — all excellent factors for solar power generation.

The Harjavalta solar project has attracted even more public attention than expected, mainly from external stakeholders. Feedback has been entirely positive, with both media and local communities praising Boliden’s decision to use otherwise hard-to-utilize landfill land for renewable energy production.

Solarigo as partner

Boliden Harjavalta sought a PPA partner for the solar plant. Out of several options, Solarigo was chosen thanks to its strong references, professional approach, and credible technical implementation plan. From the start, Boliden Harjavalta’s management and the group’s energy department were closely involved in the project.

The project required significant involvement from Jari Holmberg, Head of Electrical Maintenance, who was responsible for the project within Boliden. In addition, an employee from electricity distribution oversaw the on-site installation work, while personnel responsible for land use and environmental matters were kept informed throughout.

Solarigo was responsible for the construction and material flows, which Holmberg describes as “a true logistical feat to witness.”

Because of the special nature of the site, success required strict compliance in several areas. On an industrial site like Harjavalta, every worker and vehicle must have proper permits. Solarigo excelled in this task, with zero remarks on compliance. No safety deviations occurred during the project, and risk assessments and precautionary measures were thoroughly implemented at every stage.

Boliden

Boliden Harjavalta is one of the world’s most efficient producers of copper and nickel. The Harjavalta plants are in Southwest Finland in a strategically important location close to a port. Our main products are copper, nickel, gold, and silver. In addition, we produce sulfuric acid as a byproduct.