- Success Story
In order to strengthen the operational reliability and predictability of its Waste-to-Energy plant, Oulun Energia entered into a long-term maintenance agreement Sumitomo SHI FW (SFW). With a dedicated team of experts, SFW ensures reliable corrective maintenance and seamless planned shutdowns, ultimately contributing to a stable energy supply and efficient resource planning for the future.
Oulun Energia is an electricity and district heating provider committed to moving towards carbon-neutral energy production by 2030. In Oulu, Finland, the company operates an eco-power plant that converts waste to energy. The eco power plant processes municipal waste into steam, electricity, and district heating, with a design capacity of approximately 120,000 tons of waste each year.
Since its completion in 2012, the plant, originally operated by Laanilan Voima, has relied on SFW in maintaining smooth operations and prevent unplanned shutdowns. In 2021, Oulu Energia took over the plant's operation and maintenance management, continuing the successful collaboration with SFW.
“We have a longstanding partnership with SFW, having previously collaborated on our other plants, which made it a natural choice to continue working with them,” says Markku Heikkinen, Head of Maintenance at Oulun Energia.
“Their expertise and knowledge in waste-to-energy boilers have left us impressed.”
Reliable Corrective Maintenance and Seamless Planned Shutdowns
The collaboration between SFW and Oulun Energia is built on a long-term maintenance agreement. SFW provides corrective maintenance services, including a 24/7 support line for emergencies.
“We have been very satisfied with SFW’s performance,” states Samuli Korpela, Project Manager at Oulun Energia.
“Our needs have been heard and addressed, and repairs and maintenance have been carried out effectively. Additionally, SFW has consistently been able to respond to our requests even on a short notice.”
“It is crucial for us to have a partner that can provide 24/7 support services, ensuring that resources are available if and when a crisis occurs,” continues Heikkinen.
As part of the partnership, SFW is also responsible for executing planned maintenance shutdowns twice a year. These meticulously planned and executed shutdowns are designed to ensure minimal disruption to plant operations while allowing for essential maintenance tasks to be completed efficiently.
A key feature of the partnership is the regular planning meetings held to discuss upcoming maintenance needs based on condition monitoring reports.
“Together, we review the maintenance work needed, discussing findings, immediate action items, and tasks that should be addressed during the next shutdown,” says Jouni Happonen, Senior Customer Manager at SFW.
For Oulun Energia, the pursuit of added value is a priority, and SFW has consistently demonstrated their ability to fulfill this expectation.
“SFW has been able to highlight issues we might not have considered otherwise and take the initiative in addressing them,” Korpela says. “When problems arise or discoveries are made during maintenance inspections, they present not only the issues but also potential solutions and ways to effectively tackle them.”
This proactive approach allows both parties to plan and allocate resources effectively for upcoming maintenance tasks. It has also helped avoid unnecessary downtime during the plant's operational periods.
Enhanced Operational Reliability and Budget Planning
The cooperation between Sumitomo SFW and Oulun Energia has guaranteed operational reliability at the plant. By avoiding unplanned shutdowns, the facility ensures a stable energy supply, which is crucial for overall societal functioning, industrial progress, and Oulun Energia’s customers who rely on a secure electricity supply. As SFW’s Jouni Happonen notes, “We have been able to address all maintenance needs in a controlled, planned, and cost-effective manner.”
Oulun Energia has especially appreciated the circular calendar approach, which has made the cooperation more systematic. By designating specific activities, such as annual maintenance meetings, planning kick-off meetings, maintenance inspections, and subsequent report review meetings, the approach has enhanced predictability and fostered closer collaboration between the two parties.
“Thanks to effective planning, we no longer face surprises during annual shutdowns, allowing us to foresee potential years in advance and providing us with valuable predictability for the future," notes Korpela.
In terms of cost efficiency, SFW's meticulous maintenance planning has equipped Oulun Energia with the tools to effectively forecast and manage maintenance costs.
“SFW provides detailed condition monitoring reports to Oulun Energia. This enables them to anticipate and plan for future maintenance needs more effectively in the coming years,” Happonen explains.
Additionally, Marko Jyrkkänen, Director of Customer Care at SFW, emphasizes that “We also provide budget estimates in advance for these costs, allowing Oulu Energia to better anticipate their financial planning.”
Dedicated Team of Experts Delivering Deep Knowledge and Comprehensive Care
With a dedicated team familiar with the plant, SFW provides expert advice and support, enhancing the plant's operational efficiency.
“We provide continuity for our customers by having the same dedicated team of account managers, planners, and maintenance inspectors oversee their projects year after year,” Happonen explains.
This continuity enhances communication, streamlines processes, and allows for a deeper understanding of the customer's specific needs and challenges. As a result, it leads to more effective planning, quicker problem resolution, and ultimately improved operational efficiency and reliability.
The approach has proven to be successful. As SFW’s Marko Jyrkkänen notes, “The cooperation with Oulun Energia has been very open and constructive from the beginning.”
Samuli Korpela from Oulun Energia adds, “Throughout our long-term cooperation, we have faced challenges, but our ability to engage in constructive feedback has been invaluable. This open dialogue has allowed both parties to learn from each other and continuously improve our performance.”