Adven’s geoenergy and heat recovery solutions reduced a commercial property’s heating emissions to zero in Nastola, Finland

“Adven’s Energy as a Service model proved to be an excellent and effective solution for this site, enabling minimal emissions and a complete shift away from fossil fuels. This transition not only reduces heating costs but also supports the sustainability goals of both the property and its tenants. Providing heating energy as a service offers a low-risk, reliable solution tailored to this building’s needs,” says Markku Reinivuo, Senior Property Manager at Colliers, which manages the property.

Adven designed and implemented the energy solution renewal, which began in summer 2024 with the drilling of geoenergy wells. Installation work followed during the autumn. The new energy solution, introduced at the beginning of February, combines geoenergy, waste heat, energy-efficient heat pumps and solar energy. The waste heat produced by Lidl’s refrigeration equipment covers up to 40 per cent of the property’s heat demand.

The new energy solution, commissioned in early February, integrates geoenergy, waste heat, energy-efficient heat pumps, and solar energy. Waste heat generated by Lidl’s refrigeration equipment meets up to 40% of the building’s heating needs.

“Previously, the property relied on fossil-based natural gas and a chiller for cooling. Now, three ground-source heat pumps have replaced the natural gas boilers. In addition to heating, geoenergy also meets most of the building’s cooling energy needs,” says Anssi Juvonen, Adven’s Sales Manager for Real Estate Solutions.

Part of the electricity required for the heat pumps is generated by a solar power plant installed on the property’s roof, while the remainder is sourced as certified wind power. The property already had one large solar power plant, but the increased electricity demand from the heat pumps made installing a second plant economically viable. During the winter season, an electric boiler serves as backup and peak power production.

“With this change, the share of locally produced renewable energy increases significantly,” Juvonen states.

Colliers played a key role in all phases of the project, from preliminary studies and contract drafting to project management. Before the project began, Colliers thoroughly assessed and analyzed various heating system transition options and models. Based on this evaluation, Colliers recommended Adven’s energy solution to customer due to its benefits and service model.

Colliers also acted as the project supervisor and customer representative, ensuring the smooth progress of the work in close collaboration with Adven. “We are closely monitoring the impact of the heating system transition on the property and its users and will report our observations to our customer,” says Markku Reinivuo.

According to Statistics Finland, heating of buildings consumes about a quarter of all energy used in Finland. According to the Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries RT, energy consumption in buildings still contributes to about two-thirds of carbon dioxide emissions from Finland’s built environment.

According to Anssi Juvonen, large properties such as shopping centers and office buildings in Finland have increasingly shifted to energy-as-a-service solutions. This approach has enabled properties to reduce heating-related emissions within a short timeframe. Through the Energy as a Service model, Adven takes full responsibility for the design, implementation, investment, maintenance, and 24/7 monitoring of the energy solution.

“Choosing energy as a service is an efficient way to transition to renewable energy while stabilizing a property’s energy costs. In addition to the savings achieved through energy renovations, property owners value cost predictability. When maintenance and operational costs are covered by tenants, as is the case at the Kauppakaari property in Nastola, investing in an energy solution may not always be attractive for property owners. Our Energy as a Service model directly addresses this need while supporting the sustainability goals of both tenants and property owners,” Juvonen summarizes.

More info on:
Anssi Juvonen, Sales Manager, Adven, tel. +358 40 809 3160
Markku Reinivuo, Senior Property Manager, Colliers, puh. +358 40 641 5735

About Colliers
Colliers (NASDAQ, TSX: CIGI) is a leading global diversified professional services company, specializing in commercial real estate services, engineering consultancy and investment management. With operations in 70 countries, our 22,000 enterprising professionals provide exceptional service and expert advice to clients. For nearly 30 years, our experienced leadership – with substantial inside ownership – has consistently delivered approximately 20% compound annual investment returns for shareholders. With annual revenues exceeding $4.5 billion and $99 billion of assets under management, Colliers maximizes the potential of property, infrastructure and real assets to accelerate the success of our clients, investors and people.
Learn more at colliers.com, LinkedIn, Instagram

About Adven
Adven is a dynamic energy group, driving the energy transition by developing sustainable and competitive solutions in partnership with customers, municipalities, and suppliers. Together, our 600 employees provide households and businesses with heating based on district heating and geoenergy, and industries with steam, heating, cooling and infrastructure services that improve resource efficiency. We have a long and solid track record with more than 50 years of experience within the field. Today we operate over 350 sites in Europe with a total energy volume of 5,6 TWh. Our annual turnover is EUR 409 million, and our total balance sheet EUR 1437 million. Coming together for a future of possibilities, adven.com