Empower replaces final section of Iron Lady power line

On 14 September 2017, Empower signed an agreement with Fingrid on to build a power line between the towns of Hikiä, Riihimäki and Orimattila. The value of the agreement is approximately EUR 14 million. The agreement consists of the construction of a new combined 400/100 kV power line of 49 km with connection arrangements in the area between Riihimäki and Orimattila, and the dismantling of the final section of the “Iron Lady” power line, built at the end of the 1920s.

The Iron Lady was built in the 1920s when the Imatrankoski rapids were harnessed for electric power production, and electricity needed to be transmitted to Turku through southern Finland. The nearly 90-year-old power line has been modernised in phases in the 2010s, and this new power line between Hikiä and Orimattila will consign the Iron Lady to the history books. Construction work under the project will be launched in early 2018, and the power line will be commissioned at the end of 2019. The section to be built will replace the Iron Lady power line over a distance of 33 km, in addition to which a new route of 16 km will be built. The project gives employment to roughly 50 people.

Over the next few years, Fingrid will invest EUR 100 million in its transmission grid to ensure its efficient and uninterrupted use far into the future. The new power line will be an integral part of the transmission grid in southern Finland, and it will further improve power supply in the Lahti region. “We are actively developing our transmission grid. By selecting Empower as our partner in the power line project to be built between Hikiä and Orimattila, we can carry out our investment program effectively and successfully”, says Kari Kuusela, Executive Vice President at Fingrid.

Power line construction is one of the key expertise areas of Empower’s Power Network Services. “Being selected as the project's responsible partner indicates that Fingrid appreciates our expertise and that our partnership produces long-term benefits”, says Markku Holappa, Director of High Voltage Lines Business line at Empower.

“We have solid experience in power line construction and, in recent years, we have modernised the transmission grid in different parts of Finland, Sweden and the Baltic region. Our order backlog for the coming years is at a high level and we currently have also other power line projects underway. This means that, in addition to our experience, we can provide our customers with the most recent knowledge of different power line solutions,” continues Timo Kiiveri, President of Power Network Services at Empower.

More information: 

Director of High Voltage Lines Business line at Empower, Markku Holappa mob. +358 400 106 128