Neste to introduce solar power to its Porvoo refinery in Finland

Neste's Porvoo refinery in Finland (Photo: Neste Corp.)

Neste announced Nov. 24 that it has signed a purchase agreement for solar-power supply to its Porvoo refinery in Finland with the renewable energy company CPC Finland Oy.

Solar-power supply from the Lakari solar plant in Rauma, Finland, is expected to start in spring 2024.

Once ready, the plant will be the largest operating solar plant in Finland.

The total annual volume of the agreement is approximately 24 gigawatt hours, which represents 75 percent of the annual capacity of the Lakari solar plant in Rauma.

“Neste’s agreement on solar power is a valuable addition to our existing wind power and hydropower agreements,” said Markku Korvenranta, executive vice president of Neste’s oil-products business unit.

“The agreed annual volume corresponds to some 2 percent of the annual electricity consumption at our Porvoo refinery,” Korvenranta added.

The Porvoo refinery has used 100 percent renewable electricity since the beginning of 2022.

Due to the planned development at Neste’s refinery in Porvoo, the use of electricity is expected to increase over the coming years.

With the new agreement on the supply of solar power, Neste said the company aims to ensure that its electricity will continue to be derived from renewable resources.

“Neste is committed to combating climate change and reducing climate emissions both globally and locally,” the company stated.

“To support these aims, the company has set ambitious climate targets,” Neste added. “The signed solar-power agreement supports Neste’s commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of its production, helping the company work towards reaching carbon-neutral production by 2035. Neste is additionally committed to reducing customers’ greenhouse-gas emissions with its renewable and circular solutions by at least 20 million tons CO2e annually by 2030 and the use-phase emission intensity of sold products by 50 percent by 2040, as well as working with our suppliers and partners to reduce emissions across the entire value chain (scope 3).”