Leviäkumpu BESS

The Leviäkumpu battery storage facility in Kemijärvi is an exceptional project for NYAB, representing the company’s strong position in the rapidly evolving energy storage market. The project is significant not only due to its size but also its location, as at the time of its launch it was the northernmost battery storage project in Finland and possibly in the world.

The project is being implemented for the United Bankers/AmpTank Joint Venture and is a natural continuation of a turnkey delivery model, in which NYAB’s subsidiary Sitema was also responsible for permitting the project. Financing for the project is provided by UB Renewable Energy.

The project consists of a 35 MW / 70 MWh battery storage integrated with a full BoP 110/33 kV substation, including a 31.5 MVA transformer. Construction is carried out as a Balance of Plant (BoP) contract and includes all key infrastructure components of the battery storage facility. The project has leveraged lessons learned from NYAB’s previous battery projects, and in particular, the foundation design for the batteries has been further developed. This has resulted in cost savings in installation work without compromising quality or safety. The battery storage facility participates in Fingrid’s reserve markets and operates as part of balancing the national electricity system.

The project has also faced challenges during execution. Partial changes to Fingrid’s SJV requirements during the project created schedule pressure, but the situation was resolved through close cooperation with Fingrid and Sitema’s SJV experts. In addition, the northern location and demanding winter conditions required careful scheduling to ensure that most of the work could be completed before the harshest winter period.

The project strengthens NYAB’s role as a developer of demanding energy infrastructure and opens doors to new opportunities in the growing energy storage market. For the customer, the battery storage facility provides significant business value through the reserve markets, while from a societal perspective it improves the reliability of the electricity transmission network and supports the transition towards a more flexible and sustainable energy system. Overall, the Leviäkumpu battery storage project is an example of how a technically demanding and environmentally challenging project can be successfully and effectively delivered.