Varia Vehkalan Solar Plant

Varia Vocational College developed a new campus in Vehkala, Vantaa, in a location with excellent transport connections. Situated near the intersection of Ring Road III and the Ring Rail Line, the modern educational facility can accommodate up to 2,000 students.

The Vehkala campus provides vocational education and training in automotive technology, logistics, aircraft maintenance, electrical engineering and automation, as well as selected programmes in health and social care and information and communications technology (ICT).

Jatke served as the main contractor for the construction project, while Caverion was responsible for the building services systems and procurement of the solar PV installation. The solar PV contract was put out to tender in summer 2024, with Terawatt submitting the most competitive bid.

The solar panel array was designed in several separate sections, with inverters installed in three different main electrical switchboard rooms. The panel arrays were oriented in different directions to achieve a more consistent electricity output throughout the day.

A mounting system welded to the bitumen roofing membrane was selected to reduce the weight load on the roof. Finnish-made components were prioritised wherever possible, and the inverters can be integrated with the building automation system.

The mounting system was welded to the roofing membrane in collaboration with the project’s roofing contractor. The supports for the rooftop cable routes were also secured using the same welding method.

The project was completed on schedule, and the solar PV system is generating electricity as designed.

An interesting aspect of the project was the client’s request to install a small solar panel array for students studying electrical engineering and automation to use as part of their practical training.

This dedicated training installation allows students to gain hands-on experience in connecting solar panels, mounting them on support structures and carrying out the associated cabling work in a realistic environment.

Solar PV systems are becoming increasingly common in both new-build and refurbishment projects, making solar PV expertise an increasingly important skill for electricians.

At Terawatt, we are delighted to see future skills requirements being taken into account in such a practical and forward-thinking way during the design of new buildings.