Responsibility plays a major role in the strategy of Rapala, which started out in Asikkala in Finnish Lakeland and has since expanded worldwide. The company, which operates in over 40 countries, wants to be part of the green transition because fishing is about respecting nature and its diversity.
“Our goal is to manufacture lures for anglers around the world in the most environmentally friendly way possible. That is why the purchase of a solar power plant was a natural solution for us,” says Juha Siltala, technical director at Rapala.
Rapala’s personnel are also committed to responsible values. An idea competition for employees gave rise to the idea of going solar as a concrete climate action. So it is fair to say that the initiative of the personnel contributed to the start of the solar power plant project.
A financially profitable investment
Before purchasing the solar power plant, Rapala invited tenders from several different operators. Oomi Solar was selected as the best partner based on several different criteria.
“Our decision was influenced by the value for money, delivery time and network recommendations. Oomi Solar’s ownership base and over ten years of experience in building solar power plants also contributed to the decision,” Siltala says.
Oomi Solar was selected as the best partner based on several different criteria.
The power plant, consisting of a total of 244 solar panels, was installed at Rapala’s product development unit in Vääksy, where product design and the manufacture of production machinery and moulds are concentrated. The production of lures is currently based in Pärnu, Estonia.
“The solar power plant has been in use at our Vääksy unit for over 1.5 years, and we have been very satisfied with it. The purchase of a 95.2 kWp power plant has been a financially sound investment. Our carbon dioxide emissions have decreased by approximately 14,000 kg,” Siltala says.
The solar panels generate approximately 300–600 kWh per day, covering approximately 30% of the unit’s current electricity consumption. The original plan was to build a larger power plant, but the roof’s ventilation ducts and skylights made it challenging to implement.
Solar power plant completed on schedule and to a high standard
Mika Hytönen, business director of Oomi Solar’s Property Solutions, was involved in the project from tender calculation to commissioning and remote monitoring. Both Siltala and Hytönen consider the power plant construction project to be a textbook example of how things should be done. The project with the renowned lure manufacturer was particularly appealing to Hytönen, who is an avid angler.
“Siltala provided us with the hourly electricity consumption data right at the tender stage, which we used as a basis for drawing up a model and initial plans. After this, we inspected the roofs and the switchboard. Finally, I submitted a detailed offer, which enabled the project to be launched quickly,” Hytönen explains.
When Rapala’s tender process began in early 2022, there was a global shortage of components. Despite this, the construction project proceeded as planned, and the power plant was commissioned on schedule. The only unexpected twist came from the roof’s load-bearing capacity measurements, as there were no sufficiently detailed beam drawings available for the factory, which was built in the 1980s.
“As in Rapala’s case, it is a good idea to start the process of acquiring a solar power plant in winter, even though the snowdrifts are high and the days are short. Tender negotiations and site inspections can be carried out during the spring, and the necessary planning, permit and load-bearing capacity assessment processes can be started before the holidays. This makes it possible to utilise as much of that year’s production as possible,” Hytönen points out.
Both Siltala and Hytönen consider the power plant construction project to be a textbook example of how things should be done.