Helen’s new solar power plant to be installed on the roof of Messukeskus
One of the largest solar power plants in Helsinki will be built on the roof of the Messukeskus Expo and Convention Centre, with its panels to be harnessed as Helen’s rentable designated panels.
Messukeskus is increasing the share of renewable energy and reducing its energy consumption by lining the roofs of its property with more than 2,000 solar panels, which will generate about 592 MWh of energy per year. Solar energy will be produced in partnership with Helen.
The solar panels will be installed on the Messukeskus roof during summer 2019. At the same time, the cooling need and that way energy consumption will fall as the solar panels have a shading impact. The objective is to install more solar panels at a later date.
Increasing the share of renewable energy and reducing energy consumption are part of the climate targets of Messukeskus and its awarded environmental work over a number of years. Messukeskus is building a climate-neutral Helsinki in the Climate Partners network in cooperation with the City of Helsinki.
“As today’s actors, we are right now making decisions that will build the future for the next generations. The only alternative for us is to take care of the climate and make our own contribution. In addition to reducing energy consumption and increasing the share of renewable energy, we have reached a 99-per-cent waste recovery rate,” says Maria Mroue, Director, Marketing and Communications, who has signed the climate commitment on behalf of Messukeskus.
“We are glad to be able to continue Helen’s popular designated panel concept in the property of Messukeskus. Helen is now redeeming its promise to build more solar power plants as the demand for designated panels continues to be strong. A climate-neutral future is made together with the customers,” says Director Marko Riipinen of Helen.
Messukeskus has carried on goal-oriented environmental work for years. In 2009, Messukeskus was the first Finnish trade fair and congress centre to be awarded with the ISO 14001 environmental certificate for its environmental management system. In 2017, the Energy Authority and Motiva awarded Messukeskus as an energy-smart venue. The award was granted for commendable and long-standing action and scrupulous commitment to the Energy Efficiency Agreement for Industries in 2008–2016. An energy project extending to 2018 is currently under way, with an objective of gaining significant savings by utilising latest building technology.
Messukeskus Helsinki, Expo and Convention Centre promotes Finnish trade and industry by enabling fruitful face-to-face contacts at trade fairs, congresses and other events. Exhibitions and fairs are Finland’s seventh-largest media. In terms of impact, they are the most profitabel, the richest in experiences, and the most social of all media. In 2017, Messukeskus organised 75 exhibitions and more than 2,000 meetings and congresses, and 9,400 exhibitors participated in the events, which attracted 1.2 million visitors. The Finnish Fair Corporation, the company that owns Messukeskus, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2019.| www.messukeskus.com, @messukeskus
Energy production by Helen Ltd has been awarded as the most efficient in the world. We have more than 400,000 customers throughout Finland, our district heating covers more than 90% of Helsinki’s heating needs, and we are expanding energy-efficient district cooling in Helsinki. We develop increasingly eco-friendly and innovative solutions for the benefit of our customers. We aim to achieve 100% climate neutrality in our energy production. We want to offer our customers the best city energy in the world.