Jämtkraft’s New CHP Plant

Leading the industry with safe and sustainable low emission insulation

Jämtkraft, a Swedish energy company, has taken a significant step toward modernizing its operations and expanding its district heating network by constructing a new combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Lugnvik. At the core of this project is a commitment to safety, efficiency, and compliance – that is where Paroc’s low emission insulation has the starring role.  

Driving future industry standards from the start 

The Jämtkraft plant, headquartered in Östersund produces approximately 690 GWh heat and 1,600 GWh of renewable electricity annually. The goal with the new plant is to secure heat delivery to Östersund and expand district heating as well as to increase renewable electricity, make it possible to incorporate more recycled wood, replace older hot water boilers, and phase out fossil reserves.  

Ensuring safety for indoor industrial high-temperature applications 

Back to the beginning of the project, selecting the right insulation for Jämtkraft’s new CHP facility was crucial. The plant operates at high temperatures and traditional wired mat insulation solutions often emit harmful substances during installation and heat-up phases, which may be assessed as a risk to workers and then require additional safety procedures. When insulation is applied on indoor applications, these emissions can require additional safety measures during both installation and long-term maintenance making the insulation material selection a challenge. In this particular case, selecting an insulation material that would meet the high-performance demands of a modern energy plant while also prioritizing worker safety was paramount.   

For Jämtkraft, worker safety is a top priority, and the PAROC Pro Wired Mat LE was chosen for its ability to significantly reduce emissions.  

Emma Sundin, Project Manager at Jämtkraft, highlights the importance of choosing low emission insulation: 

"Paroc’s product with low emissions helps us to ensure we are providing a safe work environment for our employees and contractors, both during the project phase and during future maintenance and operation. We very much value the possibility to secure our employees' health but also believe that we will be able to make more efficient maintenance stops when we don’t have to close off the building when heating up the boiler." 

Enhancing efficiency and reducing downtime 

In addition to ensuring safety during the heat-up phase of the new plant, operational efficiency and reducing downtime during maintenance were priorities too. Traditional insulation materials often necessitate closing off the boiler building areas due to high emissions, resulting in longer stops and costly delays.  

By implementing Paroc’s low emission solution, Jämtkraft expects to optimize its maintenance schedules, as it significantly reduces the need for closing off the boiler building areas when starting up after a maintenance stop. This enables more efficient operations, lower maintenance-related disruptions, and improved overall plant performance.  

Emma Sundin further explains: 

“We believe that using Paroc’s insulation will result in significantly more efficient maintenance stops. Unlike traditional insulation materials, we won’t need to completely shut down the boiler building for safety reasons, allowing us to perform maintenance work in parallel and without causing major disruptions.” 

Seamless installation and contractor collaboration  

Building a new CHP plant is no small feat, especially when working under tight timelines while ensuring safety. However, thanks to seamless collaboration between Jämtkraft, Sumitomo, Pept and Paroc, the project remained on schedule from start to finish. A key factor in the project’s success was the ease of installation, with Paroc’s low emission insulation chosen for its reliability and practicality in a complex industrial setting while maintaining high safety standards. 

Janne Aali, Construction Site Manager at Sumitomo, the company responsible for the plant’s construction, reflects on the process: 

"Paroc was used as the primary insulation material throughout the facility. We have a long-standing relationship with Paroc, and their products are known for reliability. The low-emission feature was particularly valuable for this project, as safety and compliance were top priorities for Jämtkraft." 

Joonas Muhonen, Project manager at Pept, the contractor responsible for the project adds: 

“The quality and ease of installation of the products were excellent as well as the collaboration with Paroc. In addition, we know that an increasing number of customers are choosing innovative insulation solutions that have a focus on safer working environments. Therefore, bearing all benefits in mind, this low emission insulation product ticks all the boxes.”