Fortum to upgrade Loviisa nuke plant turbine automation

Fortum’s Loviisa power plant is upgrading the automation of the turbine protection and control systems of both power plant units, said Fortum in a press release on Wednesday.

The upgrade is part of the lifetime extension-related investments consisting of continuous improvements to ensure reliable electricity production until the end of the plant's lifetime.

”The existing turbine protection and control systems are reaching the end of their technical service life, and the availability of spare parts is diminishing. The aim of the automation upgrade project is to ensure the functionality of the systems throughout the Loviisa power plant’s operating life,” said Sasu Valkamo, Senior Vice President of the Loviisa power plant.

Fortum has signed an agreement with Valmet to upgrade the turbine automation. Valmet will supply the turbine protection and control systems for both Loviisa power plant units as well as for training and development simulators.

”Valmet is a technologically advanced Finnish company with which Fortum has had good collaboration on a number of projects. For example, Valmet is supplying us with the I/O hardware and software for the training simulator to be replaced,” Valkamo added.

"This is a big step for Valmet to supply the automation upgrades for the steam turbines and the training simulator of the Loviisa nuclear power plant. Valmet's technical and cost-effective solutions and a high degree of domesticity were our strengths in getting the order," said Sales Manager Tom Bäckman from Valmet's Automation Systems business line.

In February 2023, the Finnish Government granted a new operating license for the Loviisa nuclear power plant until the end of 2050.

As a result, Loviisa will provide Finnish society with a stable, CO2-free and secure supply of electricity far into the future.

It is estimated that the investments related to the lifetime extension will amount to approximately one billion euros by 2050.

Over the past five years, Fortum has already invested approximately 200 million euros in refurbishing the Loviisa power plant.