MAN Energy Solutions to Deliver 33 MW Air-to-Water Heat Pump

Finnish energy company Helen Oy has commissioned MAN Energy Solutions to supply an air-to-water heat pump as part of its Patola heating plant complex in Helsinki. 

The air-to-water heat pump plant will have a heating production capacity between 20 to 33 MW, depending on the outdoor temperature, and can function in temperatures as low as -20°C. It uses CO2 as a refrigerant in a closed-loop system and harnesses ambient air to heat water for the district heating network. The plant will provide around 200 GWh of heat annually, supplying about 30,000 homes in Helsinki and reducing CO2 emissions by 26,000 tons.

MAN Energy Solutions highlights that the core of the system is an oil-free, hermetically-sealed HOFIM motor compressor. This compression unit operates with a high-speed motor and active magnetic bearings, eliminating the need for a dry gas seal and a full oil system. Construction will begin at the end of this year, with a production start date scheduled during the 2026-27 heating season.