Clean savings with solar energy

The municipality of Tuusula is determined to utilise solar energy in its buildings. For example, all service network buildings completed in recent years have solar panels on their roofs, which convert solar radiation into electrical energy. Solar power is used, for example, by children and young people at Tuusulanjärvi School and Daycare Centre, upper secondary school students at the Monio cultural centre, and many others. 

There are a total of nine solar power plants on municipal properties, the first of which were commissioned a decade ago. The longest-running solar power plants are located at the Roinila daycare centre and the Riihikallio and Kellokoski schools. The newest solar power plants were installed in the new Riihikallio school building, completed in autumn 2025, and in the Rykmentinpuisto school and daycare centre. 

Radiation into electricity 

In a solar power system, the sun’s rays hitting the surface of the panels are converted into electricity mainly in silicon cells, which make up the surface of the panels. The electricity produced is fed into the building’s electrical network for use by all electrical appliances. Solar power can therefore be used, for example, to light a school classroom or heat food in the microwave oven in the break room.  

If the solar power output at any given moment exceeds the building’s own needs, the electricity can be sold, i.e. fed into the public grid for others to use. In the municipality of Tuusula, solar power systems are primarily intended to generate electricity for the properties’ own use.  

There are good reasons for using solar power from both a municipal economy and environmental perspective. Even though solar power can only cover part of a building’s total electricity consumption, the savings add up nicely in the long run.  

Almost all municipal buildings that use solar power have an information display inside, which allows building users to easily monitor the amount of energy produced by the system, both momentarily and cumulatively. The displays are usually installed in lobbies, and the information they provide can be used as part of teaching. 

The payback period for the investment required for a solar power system is approximately five years, after which the electricity generated from the sky is pure savings. Every kilowatt of solar power generated by your own equipment saves the municipality both the cost of the electricity produced and the transmission fees and taxes that would be incurred if the energy were purchased from an external source. 

Long service life 

The estimated service life of the panels is approximately 25–30 years, and their electricity generation capacity will only decline by about 10% during their lifetime. 

Utilising energy from the sky fits naturally into the broader guidelines set by the municipality of Tuusula for its operations. According to the mayor’s programme, the municipality takes climate impacts into account in all decision-making and seeks cost-effective ways to reduce its carbon footprint. 

The utilisation of solar power will continue and be developed in Tuusula municipality properties on an ongoing basis. In the future, solar power systems are planned to be introduced at least in the new car park on Koskensillantie and in the Särmä business and service centre. Although Tuusula does not own the Särmä property, a large part of the municipality’s operations are located there. In the future, residents visiting TuusInfo, for example, will be able to enjoy the services provided by solar power.  

Solar panels will also be installed in future service network renovation projects, such as the new school, daycare centre and youth centre building in Lahela. 

This content has been translated using AI