Pohjolan Voima Oy is planning a pumped storage power plant in Kemijärvi with an output of approximately 500 megawatts (MW). The plant’s purpose is to balance and secure electricity production.

The operational principle relies on utilizing elevation differences. When there is an excess of electricity, water would be pumped from Kemijärvi to an upper storage reservoir. When there is a shortage of electricity, the water would flowback down through a turbine into Kemijärvi, providing additional capacity to the electricity system precisely when it is most needed.

The planned output of the pumped storage plant is around 500 megawatts (MW), enabling energy storage for up to a week. The height difference between the storage r eservoir and the Kemijoki River would be up to 150 meters. Theestimated investment would range from 600 to 800 million euros.

The pumped storage plant is planned to be located about five kilometers west of Askanselkä in Kemijärvi, in the Askanaava area, currently used for forestry. The area is small and naturally bowl-shaped. The storage reservoir wouldbe created by damming areas between hills, minimizing environmental impact as much as possible. The planned storagereservoir would cover an area of about 300 hectares.

The company is currently conducting preliminary water modeling for Kemijärvi’s Askanselkä. Additionally, preparations are underway for field studies and an environmental impact assessment. The environmental assessment is expected to begin in 2025, followed by project permit applications and technical planning. Construction would beginafter obtaining the necessary permits, with a target for the pumped storage plant to be operational in the 2030s.