City-owned energy company Helen stopped energy production in Hanasaari’s coal-fired power plant on 1 April 2023. On Helsinki Day 12 June, there will be a total of 10 guided walking tours in the area, on which you get to explore the Hanasaari B power plant and ask questions from the guides.
The tours start at the top of the hour as of 9 a.m. The duration of each tour is approximately 40 minutes. The number of participants in the public tours is now full.
The guided tours are realised in collaboration between the city of Helsinki, Helen and Open House Helsinki.
The new purpose of the valuable building is still under examination
The Hanasaari B power plant, designed by architect Timo Penttilä, started operating in 1974. The nearly 50-year-old building has become a familiar landmark to the residents of Helsinki. At the moment, instead of using boilers and turbines, the work inside the building includes preparations for making the inside area safer.
The city is examining the potential new purpose of the power plant building with considerable culture historical significance.
“There is plenty of interest towards Hanasaari B, which is no longer used as a power plant. We are happy to offer residents a chance to get to know this unique power plant building,” says Chief Design Officer Hanna Harris from the City of Helsinki.
The coal pile at the extremity of Hanasaari will also be emptied, and the entire area will be released for urban development. An amendment to the local detailed plan, currently in preparation, will enable residential building in the area, mainly in the form of blocks of flats. The old power plant building is not part of the planning area in the scope of the amendment.
Emissions of the City of Helsinki decreased significantly after the closure
The city’s goal is to be carbon neutral by 2030. The City Council decided on the closure of the coal power plant in 2015.
As the power plant ended operations, the city’s emissions will decrease by approximately 20 per cent, and Helen’s carbon dioxide emissions decreased by 40 per cent. In recent years, Hanasaari has produced approximately two per cent of Finland’s emissions, so the impact of the closure is significant also on a national level.