Demand-side flexibility involves timing property heating to coincide with periods when district heat production is most cost-effective and lowest in emissions, without compromising property comfort or user experience. In practice, the properties act as a kind of thermal battery, storing heat during periods of lower consumption and reducing demand during peak periods.

The shared aim of both parties is to use demand-side flexibility to develop a sustainable energy system fit for future needs. Oulun Energia’s district heating has over 11,000 customers, and it covers approximately 160,000 residents in the Oulu region. Demand-side flexibility helps flatten peaks in Oulun Energia’s heat production, reducing the use of the most environmentally harmful and expensive fuels, such as oil. A more even heat demand in turn favours lower-cost, lower-emission production methods such as electric boilers and surplus heat recovery. In this way, demand-side flexibility has the potential to reduce district heating system emissions and keep district heating competitive.

“Our collaboration with SYK on district heating demand-side flexibility is of great significance to us. By harnessing the demand-side flexibility potential of SYK’s properties, we can reduce fuel use during district heating demand peaks and cut our CO₂ emissions by an estimated 52 tonnes per year. This is the equivalent of driving a petrol car approximately 380,000 kilometres,” says Mikko Ojala, district heating product manager at Oulun Energia.

SYK is a state-mandated company tasked with providing fit-for-purpose and cost-effective premises for its shareholder universities. Advancing sustainable and responsible practices is therefore a priority for the company. Oulun Energia offers Onni district heating, produced from renewable energy sources, for free to properties participating in the flexibility scheme. This also gives SYK a direct benefit from its contribution to building a more flexible energy system.

“Demand-side flexibility is an important step for us towards smarter and lower-emission campus infrastructure. The cooperation with Oulun Energia enables us to utilise the full potential of our properties while supporting the green transition of the region’s energy system. As a property owner, it is exciting to see our campuses serving as real-world platforms for future energy solutions. It is important to us that users experience no disruption to campus conditions, and this is precisely how demand-side flexibility will work,” states Sanna Sianoja, CEO at SYK.

The Linnanmaa main campus is home to the University of Oulu’s Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Faculty of Technology, and Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, as well as the Oulu Business School. The campus is also home to the Oulu University of Applied Sciences (Oamk).

“At the University of Oulu, we very much welcome this district heating demand-side flexibility pilot. Demand-side flexibility supports the Oulu region’s energy infrastructure in becoming lower-emission and more responsive to energy needs, and it enables us to reduce our carbon footprint. Participating in district heating demand-side flexibility supports the university’s goals for a sustainable and responsible campus life. We do stress, however, that the effects of demand-side flexibility on indoor conditions will need to be carefully monitored,” says Vesa-Heikki Kemppainen, real estate director at the University of Oulu.

“Oulu University of Applied Sciences sees the opportunity to participate in the district heating demand-side flexibility pilot at the Linnanmaa campus as highly valuable. Demand-side flexibility is a tangible and effective means of moving the region’s energy infrastructure towards a smarter, lower-emission, and more flexible energy system fit for future needs. Oamk is where thousands of students and staff spend their day-to-day lives. It is important that our campuses can also serve as testing grounds for solutions that support sustainable development and energy efficiency in practice. The measures also support Oamk’s Sustainable and Responsible Campus Life objectives," states Mikko Väisänen, CFO at Oamk.

At the Linnanmaa campus, demand-side flexibility capabilities are being developed in partnership with automation suppliers and users. Oulun Energia’s control system sends the flexibility signal to the property automation system, which then directs the command to the heating circuits. Safety limits within which demand-side flexibility can operate are defined for each section of the building. If the conditions change too much, the heating control reverts to the property automation system. Going forward, the aim is to expand and enhance demand-side flexibility using accumulated experience and data.

Picture: University of Oulu