Energy company Helen has launched a nuclear energy programme. The purpose of the programme is to build a small-scale nuclear power plant (a so-called small modular reactor, or SMR) in Helsinki. A small nuclear power plant is a smaller energy production plant than a conventional nuclear power plant, which can generate a steady supply of heat, or both electricity and heat.
Helen and the City of Helsinki are committed to climate goals and to ending combustion-based energy production. Nuclear power is being explored as a potential solution, as it generates energy without carbon dioxide emissions and in a cost-effective way.
How the project will progress
The building of a nuclear power plant is a long process with many steps along the way. In 2025, the project will launch an environmental impact assessment procedure to examine the feasibility of building a nuclear power plant at one of three potential sites. The three potential sites selected for further assessment in the project are the Salmisaari and Vuosaari power plant areas and the Norrberget area in Östersundom.
The actual decisions on the site of the power plant will be made in the coming years on the basis of the environmental impact assessment and other studies. The project will require land use planning and various licensing procedures. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment may grant permission for building a small nuclear power plant after the environmental impact assessment has been carried out, the City of Helsinki has prepared a land use plan for the area and the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority has approved the project.
Residents will be able to participate in the discussion during the environmental impact assessment and land use planning.
Join the discussion
The City of Helsinki in cooperation with Helen will be holding a public discussion event on nuclear energy in Central Library Oodi’s Maijansali on 20 November, starting at 17.00. More information about the event(Link leads to external service) . The venue has a capacity of approximately 100 people, and the event can also be followed in real time at helsinkikanava.fi. A recording of the event will also be made available on the web for later viewing.
You can also contribute to the discussion on nuclear power on the kerrokantasi.hel.fi(Link leads to external service) website. The feedback provided via the Kerrokantasi survey will be utilised in the assessment of the potential power plant sites. The survey will remain open until 7 December.
Questions and answers
We have compiled answers to common questions about nuclear power. Read more under the headings.
Why is a small nuclear power plant being planned for Helsinki?
Helen aims to phase out combustion-based energy production by 2040. In order to achieve this, the company is looking into the possibility of building a small nuclear power plant. The 2025–2029 Helsinki City Strategy states that Helsinki is preparing for the possible placement of a small-scale nuclear production plant in Helsinki. The conditions for its implementation are now being explored.
Who will make the decisions on the small nuclear power plant?
The City of Helsinki will decide on land use planning. The necessary licences and permits will be decided upon by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) and partly also by the City of Helsinki. The construction of a nuclear power plant also requires a national-level decision-in-principle, which, under current legislation, is decided by Parliament. The party that will ultimately decide on the construction of the power plant is Helen.
How is a small nuclear power plant different from a conventional nuclear power plant?
There are no official definitions for a small nuclear power plant. In practice, it means a plant that is smaller in size or capacity than a conventional nuclear power plant. In Helen's project, the plant would be based on the same technology used at the Loviisa and Olkiluoto nuclear power plants. The construction of a small nuclear power plant can be carried out utilising standardised and mass-produced elements.
How much will the small nuclear power plant cost? Who will pay for it?
The final price depends on the plant concept, the business model and, to some extent, the location of the plant. The project will be funded by Helen.
Who would build Helen's small nuclear power plant?
Helen will decide on the supplier of the plant on the basis of competitive tendering. There are currently around a dozen Western supplier options under consideration.
How long will it take to build? When would the small nuclear power plant be operational?
The duration of construction depends on the plant model chosen, but it is estimated to take several years. The plant could be operational by the mid-2030s at the earliest.
What are the impacts of the operation and construction of a small nuclear power plant?
The operation of a small nuclear power plant can have a positive effect on energy security and the balancing of energy price spikes. The operation of the plant itself would have no practical impact on people's daily lives. During the construction phase, the site may generate noise and heavy traffic may increase in the vicinity. There may also be other impacts related to the transport links needed for the power plant, the construction of the electricity grid and other infrastructure, and restrictions in the plant's precautionary action zone.
The environmental impacts of the construction of the nuclear power plant will be assessed in a separate environmental impact assessment procedure and in connection with the land use planning of the project. Acceptable environmental impacts are a prerequisite for the approval of the project plans and the obtaining of the necessary permits and licences.
Where would the small nuclear power plant be located?
The project involves assessing the suitability of three different sites for the construction of the small nuclear plant. The sites are located in the existing power plant areas in Salmisaari and Vuosaari and in the Norrberget area in Östersundom. With the exception of Norrberget, the sites are already being used for energy production operations and are managed by Helen.
Who will decide the location of the small nuclear power plant?
The possible location will be decided in master and detailed planning. The land use plans will be decided by the Helsinki City Council.
How much space will the small nuclear power plant take up?
The space required depends on the size and type of the power plant. Space will also be needed for transport links, electricity transmission and other infrastructure.
Will it be safe to live near the nuclear power plant?
It will be safe to live near the nuclear power plant. In Finland, there are people living near larger nuclear power plants as well. Land use planning for a nuclear power plant requires that the authorities, such as the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority and Rescue Department, have determined the site to be safe for nearby residential areas. The licence for the construction of the nuclear power plant will be issued by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority based on a comprehensive assessment.
What kind of nuclear waste will the plant produce? How will the nuclear waste be disposed of?
A small proportion of the waste will consist of highly radioactive, high-level nuclear fuel. It will most likely be disposed of in a purpose-built disposal facility in the Finnish bedrock. The plant will also produce intermediate and low-level nuclear waste. Decisions on final disposal and interim storage will be made later in accordance with the Nuclear Energy Act.
How much electricity and heat will the small nuclear power plant generate?
This depends on the plant concept chosen, but Helen estimates that the plant could generate up to half of the heating energy needed in Helsinki throughout the winter.
How will the small nuclear power plant affect electricity self-sufficiency?
If the plant generates both electricity and heat, it will have a significant impact on the electricity self-sufficiency of Finland as a whole. Helsinki’s electricity demand is expected to double by the beginning of the next decade at the latest. Meeting this demand will require either a major increase in transmission connections or a significant increase in electricity generation in the Helsinki area, since at present Helsinki’s electricity is mostly produced on the west coast of Finland and it is not easy or even possible to transmit it in the quantities that Helsinki will need in the future.
