Category: Case studies

  • Keeping Hydropower in the Flow: Ounastuotanto and Power-Deriva in Cooperation

    Keeping Hydropower in the Flow: Ounastuotanto and Power-Deriva in Cooperation

    Power-Deriva is responsible for the planning and control of Ounastuotanto’s hydropower plants and regulation reservoirs, as well as electricity trading and forecasting. The collaboration delivers measurable benefits in productivity, energy efficiency and resource efficiency.

    Ounastuotanto Oy is an energy production company owned by municipalities in Northern Finland. It has a long history and a broad portfolio of carbon-free energy sources. In addition, an industrial-scale battery system is being planned. Batteries react to changes in the electricity grid within seconds, making them ideal for short-term balancing and managing peak loads. Hydropower, in turn, provides long-lasting and flexible balancing capacity. Together, they enable efficient market optimization, agile use of renewable energy, and risk diversification.

    Outsourcing for Efficiency and Performance

    Maximizing productivity and succeeding in the energy market requires expertise and resources from hydropower plants. Previously, production was guided mainly by annual water volume—today, it must adapt to a more complex market with numerous variables and price fluctuations. No relief is in sight, as the Day-Ahead market is also shifting from hourly pricing to 15-minute intervals. To take control of the situation, Ounastuotanto decided to seek a skilled partner.

    Timo Virikko
    Timo Virikko, CEO of Ounastuotanto

    “With limited resources, doing everything ourselves is impossible. We chose Power-Deriva as our partner because they have strong credentials and extensive experience optimizing hydropower production in the energy market. With their support, our market window is always open,” says Ounastuotanto’s CEO Timo Virikko.

    A Robust and Streamlined Service

    Ounastuotanto’s hydropower production is optimized 24/7 in Power-Deriva’s control room, using real-time market data and forecasts. The service includes production planning for the next Day-Ahead (DA) period, as well as trading on the power exchange and in reserve markets. According to Power-Deriva’s experience, even smaller plant portfolios can have significant revenue potential in reserve markets.

    Ownership and administration of the production control system remain with Ounastuotanto. Power-Deriva operates the plants remotely in accordance with the agreed service model. The operating approach is flexible and secure, and Ounastuotanto can take control whenever needed.

    “Power-Deriva’s remote desktop solution effectively connects outsourced expert services with our system,” Virikko notes.

    Measurable Value and Efficiency

    The cooperation with Power-Deriva brings Ounastuotanto continuous operational and financial benefits. Outsourced production control and electricity trading with forecasts maximize plant revenue, minimize losses and stabilize operations, all without tying up Ounastuotanto’s own resources. The partnership brings welcome predictability and peace of mind, while enabling the team to focus on its core expertise: producing clean energy.

    “The energy market is constantly changing, but we trust that Power-Deriva keeps pace and helps set the direction. For an operator like us, this service package is a godsend,” Virikko says.

    “Our cooperation has started smoothly, and we are committed to being worthy of that trust. It is a privilege to apply our expertise in hydropower optimization and the electricity market for the benefit of the customer,” concludes Mika Laakkonen, CEO of PD Power Oy. 

    Customer Benefits in Brief:

    • Productivity and energy efficiency: production control and power trading are based on real-time market data and reliable forecasts.
    • A secure and reliable operating model: Ounastuotanto retains complete control of its systems.
    • Resource efficiency: Ounastuotanto can focus on producing clean energy.


    The graph shows the price differences between the mFRR regulation market and the DA market: The blue bars show, on average, how much more revenue could have been generated by selling electricity reserves on the mFRR energy market. The yellow bars show how much cheaper electricity could have been purchased.

  • Skilled Electricity Procurement Helps Secure Kemira’s Competitiveness

    Skilled Electricity Procurement Helps Secure Kemira’s Competitiveness

    Kemira, one of the world’s leading providers of sustainable chemical solutions, relies on Power-Deriva in the power market. Through the partnership, the key raw material of one of Kemira’s most essential products is purchased at the right time and in the right market—efficiently, profitably, and transparently around the clock. 

    For Kemira, electricity is not only a source of energy but also a raw material. For example, the production of sodium chlorate used in pulp bleaching is based on electrolysis, in which the product is manufactured using electricity converted to direct current. This makes power prices and availability direct drivers of production cost efficiency. The combined electricity consumption of Kemira’s production facilities is 100–200 megawatts, equivalent to a small city. Improving energy efficiency is also essential for achieving carbon neutrality.

    “Electricity prices fluctuate constantly, and the market is complex. We focus on our core business, chemical production, so we chose a competent and reliable partner for power procurement,” says Seppo Tuomisto, Energy Business Support and Development Manager at Kemira Plc.

    Flexible and Transparent Electricity Procurement as a Service

    Power-Deriva is responsible for the physical electricity procurement of Kemira’s production facilities in Äetsä, Joutseno, Harjavalta and Kuusankoski, Finland. The partnership includes spot and intraday trading on Nord Pool, balance management, minimizing deviations and related communication, real-time data transfer between control rooms and the market, and the utilization of demand flexibility and other market opportunities.

    Kemira provides Power-Deriva with consumption forecasts and submits a purchase offer daily. In turn, Power-Deriva verifies forecasts, manages trading, monitors deviations in production and consumption, and helps minimize balancing power costs and optimize production in line with market conditions. Kemira also has flexible capacity that enables it to adjust consumption, trade in the secondary market, and make operational shifts, even selling electricity back to the market.

    “As a market participant, we see prices and trade in real time and always know exactly where we stand without intermediaries. The process is highly automated, and our specialists mainly focus on approving bids,” Tuomisto explains.

    Right Decisions, Rapid Actions, and Lower Risks

    The cooperation between Kemira and Power-Deriva is a textbook example of how a process industry company can extract optimal value from the power market while minimizing risks.

    “Working with Power-Deriva is smooth and effortless. It’s easy to get in touch, issues are resolved quickly, and communication is active in both directions. This is especially important not only when prices fluctuate, but also in exceptional situations that require correct decisions and fast actions,” Tuomisto emphasizes.

    With the shift to quarter-hour pricing in the spring of 2025, the importance of active cooperation has grown even further. Fingrid maintains grid frequency stability by activating balancing reserves when needed. The pricing of these markets affects the power procurement costs of companies like Kemira whenever consumption or production deviates from plan. This over/underproduction is priced in 15-minute intervals, with prices reaching up to ±15,000 €/MWh.

    “In process industries, automation is already playing a key role, and as incoming data quadruples, it will be impossible for humans to handle all adjustments manually. Our competitiveness increasingly depends on fully utilizing demand flexibility and automation. Power-Deriva is an excellent partner in progressing this work as well,” Tuomisto concludes.  

    Customer Benefits in Brief:

    • Resource efficiency: Kemira focuses on its core expertise while Power-Deriva handles electricity procurement as a service.  
    • Cost efficiency: electricity at the right price and at the right time, 24/7.
    • Transparent procurement: Kemira operates as a market participant and always stays informed.  
    • Better risk management: fast decisions and correct actions, even in exceptional situations.  
    • Readiness for change: smooth transition to quarter-hour pricing and insight into the evolving power market.