Grow and develop your Smart Energy business in Helsinki

Smart grids support the energy transfer methods of the future: load profiling, demand flexibility and response, demand-driven power production, and two-way transfer of electricity and data. The grids provide opportunities for developers of e.g. distributed energy generation, cyber security, 5G, and network management solutions.

Finland has one of the most advanced smart grids in the world, and currently, the focus is on developing smart grid 2.0. Smart meters – installed in every household in the country – track consumption and network operation in real time, generating data not only for the energy company but clients and other actors as well. Moreover, the national demand response program ensures the smooth operation of the Finnish energy system, and consequently, the grid reliability at transmission lines is 99,9998%.

The operating principle of a smart grid.

Virtual power plants (VPPs) are clusters of power generating units – such as solar panels on buildings’ roofs –, connected in a microgrid. They combine the electricity generated by the units and sell it to the energy reserve market. Furthermore, Finland’s national grid operator Fingrid compensates the property owners belonging to the VPP.

VPPs support demand flexibility and create decentralized energy systems. There is great business potential for solutions that distribute the generated electricity to the grid or new energy production methods for individual buildings.

The high heating and lighting demands in the cold climate and during the dark winters have made Finnish citizens very energy-conscious. Therefore, there is great interest in improving the energy efficiency of buildings, especially heating, cooling, and ventilation, and the overall popularity of renewable energy and the installation of solar panels on both public and private buildings is growing.

Finnish cities and municipalities constantly explore new possibilities to improve the energy efficiency of residential and service buildings with smart and low-carbon solutions. Often, cities are interested in developing and co-designing solutions with companies, building users, and energy experts.

Climate targets are driving the electrification of societies and industries. This progress has created a demand for renewable energy and energy storages. Guided by the National Battery Strategy, Finland focuses on the circular economy of batteries and is prepared to direct investments in the battery and electrification ecosystems.

Finland’s strengths in energy storage development are

• natural resources (nickel, cobalt, lithium)
• world-class expertise in chemistry, processing, engineering, energy, and recycling
• an attractive business environment with partnering opportunities in the largest energy cluster in Northern Europe.

The battery ecosystem focus areas in Finland.

Hydrogen is used for storing and transporting energy and as feedstock for synthetic fuels. While some countries burn fossil fuels to produce hydrogen, in Finland, the widespread availability of renewable energy enables clean and green production.

Additional advantages include ample water reservoirs, a robust transmission grid, a stable and predictable regulation framework, and strong experience in the industrial use of hydrogen.

In Finland, new hydrogen solutions are sought and developed to solve various challenges, such as cost-efficient decarbonization of hydrogen, decarbonized steel production, and lowering industry logistics costs.

Renewable energy is replacing coal and other fossil fuels, in turn creating a strong demand and profitable market for wind energy solutions.

The wind power capacity in Finland holds great expansion potential. Besides increasing the availability of clean energy, additional construction of wind power could provide balancing power to the national grid and protect the grid from major fluctuations. See the wind power map by the Finnish Wind Power Association for ongoing and planned projects.