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A Customer Success Story: The First Modern Gas Engine Power Plant in Finland for Tornion Voima – Supported by PGE's Expertise in Demanding VJV Process and Testing

PGE’s experts took charge of the comprehensive management of the VJV process for Tornion Voima’s new gas engine power plant and conducted demanding tests to meet grid requirements.

Tornion Voima, a subsidiary of EPV Energia, is building a cutting-edge gas engine power plant designed to balance Finland’s electricity system. Located in the in Röyttä, the new plant, with a capacity of approximately 43 MW, will deliver much-needed flexibility to the grid, especially when renewable energy sources like wind or solar are less available.

Tornion Voima and the new gas engine power plant

Tornion Voima is a subsidiary of EPV Energia that produces electricity for its parent company and its owners. The new gas engine plant is a significant investment both regionally and nationally. The plant utilizes the existing regional gas infrastructure.

“The plant significantly increases the flexibility of Finland’s electricity system and is able to respond quickly to changing weather conditions and various disruptions in electricity production,” says Janne Koppari, Electrical and Automation Maintenance Manager at Tornion Voima. 

New gas engine power plant

  • 4 gas engines, total capacity approx. 43 MW
  • The plant provides extremely fast adjustment and backup power capacity
  • Will be ready for commercial use in early 2026

Wärtsilä is responsible for the construction of the power plant and has supplied the engine technology, enabling fast start-up and high efficiency across varying load conditions.

Four gas engines with a total capacity of approx. 43 MW

The VJV process for gas engine plants and specific test requirements

PGE’s role in the project was to ensure the conditions for safe and reliable commissioning of the new plant by monitoring the various stages of the Finnish VJV power plant grid code process and performing the related VJV tests. In addition, PGE was responsible for calculating the protection settings for the main transformer and the 110 kV connection field. The work required demanding electrical engineering expertise, such as testing additional stabilization.

"PGE has always been responsive and helpful, with a professional and supportive attitude. A reliable and professional partner who works by your side is extremely important. PGE has brought the special expertise needed for the project," says Janne Koppari of Tornion Voima, describing the collaboration with PGE. 
Janne Koppari, Electrical and Automation Maintenance Manager at Tornion Voima, is monitoring the progress of the VJV tests.

VJV tests are a key step in ensuring the operational reliability of a plant in accordance with the Finnish transmission system operator Fingrid’s technical requirements for power plants connected to the Finnish electricity system. The most comprehensive VJV tests are required for type D plants (over 30 MW or over 110 kV grid connection), such as Tornion Voima’s 43 MW gas engine plant. The tests are necessary for the plant to be granted permission to produce electricity into the grid.

Practical tests must demonstrate that the power plant meets all technical requirements and can operate safely and reliably in various load and disturbance situations in the grid:

  • Withstands voltage and frequency fluctuations in the power grid and does not cause disturbances in the grid
  • Operates predictably in different load and disturbance situations, such as sudden changes in wind or solar power
  • Meets Fingrid’s requirements for modeling, protection, and control before commercial use

VJV tests for gas engine plants involve special requirements, such as power system stabilizer (PSS) testing, which require specialized electrical engineering expertise.

“Tuning and testing the PSS was the most demanding phase of the commissioning tests. According to the requirements, the commissioning tests for type D synchronous motor power plants must also verify the operation and characteristics of the generator’s power system stabilizer (PSS) for voltage regulation. Commissioning tests of the power system stabilizer verify the controller’s response to electromechanical fluctuations, thus ensuring that the power plant does not amplify but rather dampens power fluctuations in the grid,” explains Petri Koski, Principal Consultant of Power System Protection at PGE, who was responsible for managing the VJV process for the project.

Janne Koppari from Tornion Voima and Petri Koski from PGE, with the Röyttä 110 kV GIS equipment in the background.

Results and summary

 With PGE acting as a trusted independent expert, Tornion Voima could verify the plant’s functionality in accordance with the required tests. The project highlighted PGE’s ability to deliver even the most demanding technical solutions and measurements across various power plants.

EPV and Tornion Voima can trust that the plant can do what the tests show:

  • starting up quickly when needed
  • responding to fluctuations in electricity consumption
  • supporting the regional electricity grid in the event of disruptions

Tornion Voima’s new gas engine plant is a significant step towards more flexible energy production. The VJV tests conducted by PGE were a key part of the project’s success and supported the plant’s role as Finland’s first modern gas-engine power plant.

Further information

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