Renewable energy firm CPC Finland Oy has inked a deal to provide power from its Lakari solar farm, currently in development in Rauma, to Neste's Porvoo refinery. The project is anticipated to generate approximately 24 gigawatt-hours (GWh) annually, constituting 75% of the solar farm's yearly capacity.
Scheduled to commence power supply in the spring of 2024, the agreement aligns with Neste's commitment to utilizing 100% renewable electricity at its Porvoo refinery since the start of 2022. However, with planned expansions at the refinery, electricity demand is expected to rise in the coming years.
Markku Korvenranta, Executive Vice-president for Oil Products at Neste, expressed the significance of the solar power agreement, stating, “Neste's agreement on solar power is a valuable addition to our existing wind power and hydropower agreements. The agreed annual volume corresponds to some 2% of the annual electricity consumption at our Porvoo refinery.”
The move reflects Neste's ongoing efforts to diversify its renewable energy sources, contributing to its sustainability goals while accommodating the increasing power requirements driven by refinery expansions.