Adven invests in sustainable district heating in Estonia
Adven has invested significantly in developing its district heating networks in Estonia over the past eight years. To ensure a reliable and efficient heat supply, renovation work will be carried out in nine network areas across Estonia over the next one and a half years.
The renovation and construction of the district heating networks in Estonia help ensure an efficient and reliable service and the most reasonable price in the long term. Additionally, all new investments contribute to improved sustainability, aligning with Adven’s commitment to advancing society’s transition toward a more sustainable future.
This summer, renovation projects began with the main goal of producing heat in a more environmentally friendly way — specifically, by minimizing small particles emitted from chimneys. Boiler houses in the Rakvere and Haabneeme areas were equipped with electrostatic filters to clean flue gases. These filters capture particles, which are then collected in an ash bin. The equipment was installed in time for the heating season and will provide heat to nearby buildings.
Next year, a 1.3-megawatt flue gas condenser is planned to be installed at the Rakvere cogeneration plant to enhance boiler efficiency. “The condenser helps extract heat from the flue gases before they exit through the chimney, redirecting it back into the heat network,” explains Raivo Melsas, Head of Business Development and Customer Management at Adven in Estonia. He adds that the innovation aims to improve the efficiency of the plant and thus keep the price of heat as low as possible.
While most of the work focuses on improving the security and efficiency of the heat supply, the installation of electromagnetic filters is specifically aligned with environmental goals. “We are equipping the boiler houses in Rakvere and Haabneeme with filters that reduce the concentration of solid particles in flue gases. This enables us to produce heat in a more environmentally sustainable manner,” Melsas explains.
In addition, sections of heating pipelines across various regions in Estonia will be replaced. Outdated networks will be replaced with new pre-insulated pipelines, which help reduce heat losses and ensure a more reliable heat supply. The selection of network areas for replacement was based on their condition. “Most heating networks are in good shape thanks to construction and renovation work carried out in recent years. As a result, the required updates are mostly shorter pipeline sections, typically a few hundred meters long,” notes Melsas.
Read more about district heating in Estonia (in Estonian)