News
EnergyWeek 2023 was bigger than ever – seminars were packed with people
EnergyWeek 2023 attracted a record number of visitors to the seminars and exhibitions in Vaasa last week.
– This year, too, EnergyWeek lasted the whole week and became more extensive than before; we had more visitors than ever. This was noticeable even before the event week on Monday when 30% more people had registered than in previous years, says Kristoffer Jansson, EnergyVaasa’s Communications & Brand Manager.
– The rail industry strike affected train services and changed seminar programs because some speakers could not come, but the overall impact on the event became less than we thought. The number of visitors didn’t suffer from the halt in train traffic. EnergyWeek’s content and brilliant seminar programs were so intriguing that visitors began to plan alternative ways to travel here. Many used environmentally friendly carpooling, Jansson continues.
– EnergyWeek is also an excellent example of collaboration and team spirit. I am once again truly impressed by the commitment to our joint event and how the region’s organizations and our partners have tackled challenges and taken opportunities, Jansson praises.
15% Growth
- Over 7,100 visitors from 44 different countries (2022: 6,200 visitors from over 30 countries). 15% growth.
- During the week, participants had an opportunity to listen to a total of 160 speakers at 30 different events or seminars (2022: 154 speakers in 31 events)
- Matchmaking was arranged on four days, and the number of business meetings more than doubled from last year’s 250 to 550 this year
- The number of foreign visitors doubled from previous years
The objective of EnergyWeek is to bring together experts from the field and offer them new contacts, networks and potential partners. The themes for this year were energy and the environment, wind and renewable energy, gas energy and energy storage. The Oscars of energy technology were once again awarded at Wednesday’s Energy & Innovation Awards competition.
The event will be even better next year
– We must of course always aim to be even better. That’s why we are now collecting the feedback from the audience, organizers and exhibitors. After taking a breather, we’ll start planning for the next EnergyWeek event, says Jansson and continues:
– The seminar programs were very successful this year, as several seminars were sold-out. Of course, this is a positive problem, but given next year, we need to think about how to relieve crowd situations and their effects.
- EnergyWeek 2023 photo gallery
- Vaasa EnergyWeek is a five-day event week for the energy sector organized collaboratively by around thirty organizations. EnergyVaasa and Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK are the main coordinators of the event.
- The next EnergyWeek will be held from 18 to 22 March 2024
Green Industry Park won the Oscar of energy technology – Energy and Innovation Awards 2023
The Energy and Innovation Awards were presented on 22 March.
The Awards Jury includes: expert team from Technology Centre Merinova, EnergyVaasa, EnergySpin and Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK led by Marko J Koski, EnergySpin Operations & Partnerships and Kristoffer Jansson, EnergyVaasa Communications & Brand Manager.
Winner of 2023
Green Industry Park – the technology to harvest common reed and make biogas out of it
Green Industry Park from Turku does not only create carbon sinks, but also improves the ecological status of vulnerable archipelagos. Once method is created and demonstrated, it is scalable globally. Green Industry Park wants to use the innovative technology and creativeness to boost technological know-how and scale it up to global business by using weed as the biomass for carbon sink of our own.
The company has built technology over the decades to be the world leader in Forest Industry know-how, an is in the position to create the technology to harvest common reed (Aalto University Mechatronic project on-going), make biogas out of it, use the solid reject of the bio gas production as the raw material for pyrolysis technology based bio char production, and use the flue gas of the pyrolysis process for methane production (QPower microbe based technology). The bio char itself can be used for improving the soil conditions for our agricultural activities thus guaranteeing the carbon will be stored for thousands of years.
By using and harvesting the annual growth of common reed at the end of its lifetime and using bio char on our crop fields, the technology does not only improve the status of Archipelago, but can also create carbon sinks.
The technology and business concept based on income from biogas production, methane production, bio char production and the income from carbon sinks, once created and demonstrated, can be scaled up to global markets as the need for moving towards carbon neutrality is urgent and the existence of common reed is globally vast. Currently common reed is rotten at the seafronts and thus causing methane emissions by itself without a possibility to be utilized as raw material in mass production.
The People’s Choice 2023
CloEE – increasing overall equipment effectiveness in Industry 4.0
CloEE is a Helsinki-based company that provides industrial enterprises with a leading IoT software-as-a-service that helps to increase overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and measure and control carbon emissions due to reducing energy consumption and minimizing the number of required machine tools.
Approximately 60% of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels, mostly coal and natural gas. At the same time, industrial enterprises account for approximately 27% of global CO₂ emissions. World Economic Forum and its partners aim to reduce the carbon footprint of the manufacturing industry by exchanging data in the supply chain. CloEE plans to join in achieving this goal and to become a sustainable partner for industrial enterprises.
70% of industrial plants fail to achieve 40% equipment efficiency and that billions of industrial machines at 10 million enterprises globally are only utilized at the level of 40-60%, far from the desired 90%.
By increasing the efficiency with CLoEE, enterprises can significantly reduce specific emissions, thereby increasing useful energy consumption. Moreover, there will be a significant decrease in the number of new machines required, which when added to the optimization of current equipment, can result in a huge reduction in carbon emissions.
CloEE has over 100+ ready to use CNC protocols and digs into all the analytics and reports generated based on real up-to-date data and provides useful insights on a weekly basis. CloEE works 24/7 helping to increase OEE and catching all the important trends of how equipment actually works. CloEE provides industrial enterprises with ECaaS (Efficiency Center as a Service) – a team of highly qualified SMEs (subject-matter experts) of the production process.
EnergyWeek arranged for the 11th time next week
The energy industry’s top event EnergyWeek will be held at Vaasa City Hall between 20 and 24 March. Registration opened on 15 January, and the enrolment numbers are good. Once again, thousands of participants from dozens of different countries are expected to attend EnergyWeek, and exhibitors have made numerous reservations throughout the four exhibition days.
During the five-day event week, you can hear the latest news while the top energy professionals will be presented with the most fascinating new cases and innovations within the energy industry. EnergyWeek, now organised for the 11th time, is the most important networking and sales event in the Nordic countries for local, domestic and international visitors.
– This year’s EnergyWeek follows its traditions. Over five days, the event offers a total of 22 different seminars with over 100 speakers. The exhibitions are open for four days with close to 200 exhibitors. Many international companies also participate as exhibitors. In addition, the seminars will feature several international speakers. So, it’s well worth getting acquainted with the program and registering well in advance, says EnergyVaasas Communications & Brand Manager Kristoffer Jansson.
Different theme for each day
EnergyWeek 2023 will focus on four different themes: energy and the environment, wind and renewable energy, gas and energy storage. The programme also includes events on topics such as the circular economy, space technology, block chain and energy technologies, as well as events related to financing and growth of renewable energy. Match Making sessions will take place from Tuesday to Friday. In addition, the exhibition events are open for four days, from Tuesday to Friday. The Energy and Innovation Awards will be presented on Wednesday.
EnergyWeek kicks off on Monday with the traditional Energy and Environment Seminar, which, unlike the rest of the week, is an influencer seminar in Finnish. This year’s seminar theme is “Significant investments enable green transition in Europe”. The second part of the seminar will focus on the political party debate on energy policy. The debate deals with the importance of R&D funding, seeking solutions to the challenges of Finland’s permitting processes and considering how to implement the planned investments in the region.
– Because of the world situation, themes such as climate, electrification, and energy storage will almost certainly be hotter topics than ever this year. However, energy efficiency and sustainability have always been the common thread that runs through EnergyWeek, says Jansson.
- Vaasa EnergyWeek is a five-day event organised collaboratively by about twenty organisations. EnergyVaasa and Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK are the main coordinators of the event.
- Except for the Energy and Environment Seminar on Monday, EnergyWeek will be held in English.
- The EnergyWeek of 2023 has been fully climate compensated for the first time. Climate compensation includes travel and accommodation for the guests and staff, purchased goods and services, and energy usage for the event.
- EnergyVaasa is the largest energy technology hub in the Nordic countries and includes companies that develop sustainable, energy-saving technological solutions that reduce emissions. EnergyVaasa includes more than 160 companies with more than 12,000 employees in total.
28.10.2022
Planning for an anode materials production facility for the battery manufacturing industry in Vaasa
Finnish Minerals Group and Epsilon Advanced Materials have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under which the companies will evaluate the possibility of setting up an anode materials production facility in Vaasa. A plot of land in the GigaVaasa area has been reserved for the facility after it became vacant when the cooperation between Grafintec Oy and Epsilon Advanced Materials ended on the 25th of August 2022.
“I am very pleased that the development of the GigaVaasa area is continuing according to plan, as the value chain is complemented with anode materials production. The cooperation between Epsilon and Finnish Minerals Group has been very productive and extremely efficient,” says Tomas Häyry, Mayor of Vaasa.
The site reservation was approved at the Vaasa City Board’s meeting on the 3rd of October 2022. The company has reserved Plot 18, which is located close to the site reserved by FREYR Battery for its battery cell plant.
According to a Finnish Minerals Group’s press release, cooperation on the production facility project will begin with the preparation of an environmental impact assessment programme. The aim is to launch the EIA procedure for the project in early 2023 by submitting an EIA programme to the coordinating authorities.
“Around 1,200 gigawatt hours of battery cell production is currently in the pipeline in Europe up to the end of this decade, which will require strong battery materials production. Together with Epsilon, we are among the first to start a project for the production of anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. From Finnish Minerals Group’s perspective, this project complements our existing cathode materials projects that are at a more advance stage,” says Vesa Koivisto, Senior Vice President of Battery Operations at Finnish Minerals Group.
“The world is moving towards an electric ecosystem, which will multiply the demand for batteries. We expect global investment in the battery value chain to grow, and local battery manufacturing to be strengthened by such investments. Our cooperation with Finnish Minerals Group is starting at exactly the right time. Our goal is to build a sustainable operational environment for the battery ecosystem in Europe,” says Vikram Handa, Managing Director of Epsilon Advanced Materials.
- Read also: Finnish Minerals Group’s press release
GigaVaasa Area Timeline:
- April 2021: First reservation for the GigaVaasa area; Johnson Matthey selects Vaasa as the location for a sustainable battery materials plant.
- August 2021: FREYR Battery selects Vaasa as the location of a battery cell plant; a memorandum of understanding (MoU) is signed for a 90-hectare plot.
- November 2021: Johnson Matthey announces the sale of its battery materials business. However, Vaasa continues negotiations with the company’s new owner.
- January 2022: Grafintec Oy and Epsilon Advanced Materials sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Vaasa to build a plant to produce anode materials for the battery industry in the GigaVaasa area.
- January 2022: FREYR Battery’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) commences.
- May 2022: FREYR Battery and the City of Vaasa enter into a fixed-term lease agreement for 130 hectares of land.
- August 2022: Grafintec Oy and Epsilon Advanced Materials dissolve their mutual cooperation agreement. They continue discussions with the City of Vaasa.
- September 2022: The memorandum of understanding with Grafintec Oy and Epsilon Advanced Materials has to be formally terminated as cooperation between the companies has ended and in order to start new negotiations on the site in question.
- October 2022: Finnish Minerals Group and Epsilon Advanced Materials sign a memorandum of understanding under which the companies will evaluate the possibility of setting up an anode materials production facility in Vaasa.
29.3.2022
The Long-Awaited EnergyWeek Gained a Record Audience
Last week, EnergyWeek 2022 brought together a record number of visitors to seminars and exhibitions. EnergyWeek was welcomed with great interest as the event week was organised for the first time since 2019.
– EnergyWeek was more extensive this year, lasting for the whole week and having more visitors than ever before. I don’t think there was a vacant hotel room left in the city. And, for the first time, we even had some of the seminars streamed to the public. I was pleased to see that the spirit and feeling you have during EnergyWeek has not changed or faded. During the week, you could see a lot of happy people networking with each other. This has always been the reason people come to EnergyWeek, says Kristoffer Jansson, EnergyVaasa’s Communications & Brand Manager.
– EnergyWeek is a genuine display of cooperation. I’m truly impressed with the dedication of the region’s organisations and our partners in creating this shared event, Jansson continues.
New Theme Grew the Event
- Over 6,200 event participants from over 30 different countries (in 2019: 4,600 visitors from 25 countries)
- During the week, participants had an opportunity to listen to a total of 154 speakers at 31 different events or seminars (2019: 90 speakers in 21 events)
- The event had approximately 250 exhibitors (2019: approx. 190)
The objective of EnergyWeek is to bring together experts from the field and offer them new contacts, networks and potential partners. This year’s themes were energy and environment, wind and renewable energy, smart energy, gas energy, and energy storage as a new theme. The topics of the energy storage day were, among others, battery technologies and establishments, hydrogen, gas, synthetic fuels and heat.
– What makes EnergyWeek a special event is the fact that there is a specific theme for each day and also different exhibitors. The exhibition area is rebuilt every night for the next day’s theme, ready for new companies to present their work. Each day’s seminars are also closely linked to the day’s theme, says Jansson.
The Oscars of energy technology were once again awarded at the Energy & Innovation Awards competition.
- For more information, please read the press release: https://www.energyweek.fi/energyweek-energyvaasatalks/
The Event Will Be Even Better Next Year
– Every year, we strive to create an even better event than the previous one. Now after the event is over, we collect all the feedback received from the audience, the organisers and the exhibitors. After taking a breather, we start planning the next year’s event, Jansson explains.
- Vaasa EnergyWeek is a five-day event week for the energy sector organised collaboratively by around thirty organisations. EnergyVaasa and Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK are the main coordinators of the event
- The next EnergyWeek will be held between 20.–24.3.2023
Press release 23.3.2022
Hitachi Energy Finland Oy won the Oscar of energy technology – Energy and Innovation Awards 2022 on EnergyWeek.
The Energy and Innovation Awards were presented on 23 March. Since EnergyWeek 2020 was cancelled at the last minute due to COVID-19, the winners of 2020, who missed the awards ceremony then, were also awarded this year alongside this year’s winners.
The Jury’s Choice
The Jury includes: Anna-Kaisa Valkama, Program Director, Technology Centre Merinova, Marko J Koski, EnergySpin Operations & Partnerships, Kristoffer Jansson, EnergyVaasa Communications & Brand Manager.
Winner of 2022
Hitachi Energy Finland Oy, One of Europe’s largest battery energy storage systems for TVO in Finland for balancing the grid and contributing for Finland’s goals of carbon neutrality 2035
Hitachi Energy’s 90-megawatt battery energy storage system supports the stability of Finland’s energy network and will help the country meet its climate goals.
Battery energy storage system supports the entire grid, in a potential production disturbance in the Olkiluoto 3 plant unit, thus minimizing the effect of power fluctuations on the grid. The turnkey solution acts as a fast-start backup power source.
A battery energy storage of this scale and the increase in low emission electricity generation is a major climate action and will contribute to Finland’s goal of carbon neutrality in 2035.
- Read more about all the finalists: https://www.energyweek.fi/energy-innovation-awards-2022/
Winner of 2020
Instagrid, portable battery power supply for professional applications
Instagrid has developed the world’s most advanced portable power pack to replace highly polluting petrol and diesel generators. Instagrid products offer simple, flexible and emission-free access to electric power for professionals on the move.
In many industries, professional workers are dependent on a reliable and simple power supply. Instagrid’s robust solution far exceeds the technical specifications and capabilities of what is available on the market today. The company offers grid-like power delivered from a portable source, with solutions for the construction industry, event organisers, gardeners, fire brigades, disaster recovery and humanitarian organisations.
- Read more about all the finalists: https://www.energyweek.fi/energyweekawards2020/
The People’s Choice
People’s Choice 2022
phelas GmbH, Scalable, cheap and sustainable energy storage enabling 100 % renewable future
Cheap long duration energy storage, such as phelas Aurora, is able to replace fossil fuels together with renewables in a cost competitive, scalable and sustainable manner by providing renewable baseload power.
phelas addresses the resource criticality and environmental impact of existing storage technologies by using abundant and recyclable resources. According to Climate Impact forecast 350 t Co2 eq can be saved per 8 MWh phelas system.
The Aurora system is a new approach to liquid air energy storage (LAES). It uses both pressure and cryogenic temperatures and the enthalpy inherent in the phase transition to store energy.
People’s Choice 2020
ABB Oy Smart Power
ABB Oy brought DC switching to a whole new level with their OTDC ”Sunday” range. Not only improving the operational voltage from 1000Vdc to 1500Vdc but also minimizing the footprint and improving the arc extinguishing behavior for DC switching.
Through optimized design, raw material savings for the production of the switch, compared to its predecessor and competitor products are realized. Also savings in system components are achieved by using OTDC ”Sunday”. Stepping up the operating voltage to 1500Vdc allows the usage of smaller cables and conduits which decreases the amount of materials applied, and so costs by up to 40% for system manufacturers.
By lowering the amount of resources used, this product is directly contributing to sustainability and making energy distribution greener.
EnergySpin Recognition of Excellence
EnergySpin has attracted applications from all over world for multicorporate energytech program. Each year from hundreds of talented startups around dozen has been selected. Total 48 excellent startups have been through the program. We have try to select the one which meets the following criteria:
- clarify or pivot the business model
- attract capital
- expand to new customers and markets
The decision was definitely not easy, many of the EnergySpin participants are on the track to sustainable business. The first ever Recognition of Excellence goes to Valaa Technologies. They have pivoted and focused from a new more general operating system VaIOS to focusing on serving more industry specific needs in legacy industry proving new and easy to implement solution to smart buildings.
- Read more about EnergySpin Business Accelerator https://energyspin.fi/
For more information, please contact:
Kristoffer Jansson
EnergyVaasa Communications & Brand Manager, Vaasa Region Development Company
+358 40 539 4055
kristoffer.jansson@vasek.fi
Press release 15th March 2022
EnergyWeek expected to be as busy as before the pandemic
EnergyWeek, the top energy event, taking place next week from the 21st to the 25th of March at Vaasa City Hall, only opened its registration on the 4th of February, but enrolment has got off to a great start – despite the exceptional global situation. Once again, thousands of participants from dozens of countries are expected to attend. Exhibitor stands for all four days of the event are almost fully booked.
During the five-day event, top energy professionals will be presented with the most fascinating new cases and innovations and will have the opportunity to hear the latest news from the energy sector. EnergyWeek is the most important networking and sales event in the Nordic countries for local, national and international visitors.
“EnergyWeek was last held in 2019 and featured 21 different events or seminars. This year, EnergyWeek has been extended by one day and will offer a total of 30 different events. There will also be many international companies exhibiting their solutions and innovations, and the seminars will feature several international speakers. It’s well worth checking out the programme and registering in advance,” says EnergyVaasa’s Communications & Brand Manager Kristoffer Jansson.
“Of course, safety is an aspect we will be paying particular attention to. We strongly recommend wearing a mask, plus there will be plenty of hand sanitiser available. If a participant has even minor symptoms, we must ask them to please stay at home,” Jansson continues.
New themes every day
EnergyWeek 2022 will focus on five different themes, one for each day: energy and the environment, wind and renewable energy, smart energy solutions, gas, and the new theme of energy storage, which will include presentations about battery technologies and companies belonging to the battery value chain looking to establish themselves in the region, as well as hydrogen, synthetic fuels, heat and other topics related to energy storage.
The programme also includes events on topics such as the circular economy, smart cities of the future, space technology and electric aircraft. Match Making sessions will take place from Wednesday to Friday. The exhibition events are open on four days, each day with a different theme. There will be different exhibitors presenting their solutions, depending on the theme of the day.
EnergyWeek kicks off on Monday with the traditional Energy and Environment Seminar, which, unlike the rest of the week, is an influencer seminar in Finnish. The seminar’s theme this year is the green transition and electrification. The second part of the seminar will focus on the Nordic battery belt and will include a panel discussion at the end of the event.
You can get a head start on EnergyWeek at the Green Car event in the Vaasa marketplace on Saturday the 19th of March from 11:00 to 15:00. This event will be held in Finnish.
“Climate issues, electrification and energy storage will almost certainly be a hotter topic than ever this year, although energy efficiency and sustainability have always been the common thread that runs through EnergyWeek,” says Jansson.
The Energy and Innovation Awards will be presented on Wednesday. Since EnergyWeek 2020 was cancelled at the last minute due to COVID-19, the winners of 2020, who missed the awards ceremony then, will be awarded this year alongside this year’s winners.
• See the full EnergyWeek 2022 programme https://www.energyweek.fi/
• Vaasa EnergyWeek is a five-day event organised collaboratively by about twenty organisations. EnergyVaasa and Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK are the main coordinators of the event.
• Except for the Energy and Environment Seminar on Monday and the Green Car event on Saturday, EnergyWeek will be held in English.
• EnergyVaasa is the largest energy technology hub in the Nordic countries and includes companies that develop sustainable, energy-saving technological solutions that reduce emissions. EnergyVaasa includes more than 160 companies with more than 12,000 employees in total.
For more information, please contact:
Kristoffer Jansson
EnergyVaasa Communications & Brand Manager, Vaasa Region Development Company
+358 40 539 4055
kristoffer.jansson@vasek.fi
7.2.2022 Registration to EnergyWeek is now open
14.1.2022 EnergyWeek registration to open early february
EnergyWeek registration opening early February 2022, get your passport(s) in order.
EnergyWeek will be organized as planned. Registration will open early February
Having a safe event is our number one priority, and we will therefore require all visitors to show a “EU Digital COVID Certificate” or similar CovidPass.
We are constantly monitoring the recommendations from the authorities and we will add the all required elements in order to have a safe event.
EnergyWeek järjestetään suunnitelmien mukaan ja rekisteröinti avataan helmikuun alussa 2022. Otamme koronapassin käyttöön Vuoden 2022 tapahtumassa. Koronapassi mahdollistaa tapahtuman järjestämisen turvallisesti.
Ihmisten terveys ja turvallisuus ovat meille EnergyWeekin järjestäjille ensisijalla. Me seuraamme jatkuvasti tilanteen kehittymistä ja reagoimme nopeasti viranomaisten suosituksiin ja ohjeisiin.
EnergyWeek kommer att ordnas enligt plan och registreringen öppnas i början av februari 2022. Att kunna ordna ett tryggt evenemang är vår högsta prioritet, därför kommer vi att förutsätta att alla deltagare uppvisar Coronapass eller motsvarande intyg.
Vi följer konstant med myndigheternas rekommendationer och vidtar nödvändiga åtgärder för att vi skall kunna genomföra ett tryggt evenemang.
12.10.2021
Next EnergyWeek Organized in March 2022 – Event Week of the Energy Sector Returns on an Even Larger Scale
The most significant international networking and sales event for the energy sector in the Nordic countries, EnergyWeek, will be organized between March 21–25, 2022. This time, it will be a five-day event instead of the four days of previous years. Registration to the event will open at the beginning of 2022, and there are already nearly 200 confirmed exhibitors. As with past EnergyWeek events, thousands of visitors and speakers from over 20 countries are expected to attend the event. The location for the event is the Vaasa city hall.
The event has five themes, one for each day: energy and environment, wind and renewable energy, smart energy, gas, and energy storage as a new theme. The topics of the energy storage day are, among others, battery technologies and establishments, hydrogen, gas, synthetic fuels and heat and other topics related to energy storage. The exhibitors change according to the day’s theme. All EnergyWeek seminars will be organized in English, and some of them will also be streamed online.
– In the previous years, we have had over 4 600 EnergyWeek visitors, and we have organized over 25 seminars in the event. These seminars have had approximately 110 speakers in four days. Now, when it is a 5-day event in question, everything points to the fact that it will be even bigger, notes EnergyVaasa’s Communications & Brand Manager Kristoffer Jansson from VASEK.
In 2021, EnergyWeek would have celebrated its 10th anniversary, but this milestone will be celebrated during the next EnergyWeek in March 2022. EnergyWeek’s 10th anniversary will be the theme of the three evening events, and an energy technology and innovation prize will be given out in the traditional Energy Awards ceremony.
The organizers of the EnergyWeek have arranged a series of EnergyVaasa Talks webinars throughout 2021. The webinars cover energy and cleantech technology-related topics presented by international experts. The webinars are open to everyone. The webinars that have already been organized can be viewed on the EnergyVaasa YouTube channel.
Vaasa EnergyWeek is one of the foremost events in the energy sector. The event is organized as a collaboration by over thirty organizations. EnergyVaasa / Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK has the main responsibility for coordinating the event.
EnergyVaasa is the largest energy technology cluster in the Nordic countries. The companies in the EnergyVaasa cluster develop sustainable and energy-saving technology solutions that reduce emissions. There are over 160 companies with over 12,000 employees in the EnergyVaasa cluster. Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK is a regional business and development company owned by the municipalities in the Vaasa region.
Further information:
Kristoffer Jansson
EnergyVaasa’s Communications & Brand Manager
kristoffer.jansson@vasek.fi
+358 40 539 4055
13.9.2021
Energy Academy Brings Vaasa’s Top Companies and Higher Education Institutions Together for a Unique Collaboration
Nordic energy capital Vaasa has a growing energy cluster and news about developments in the battery industry reinforce the region’s positive future perspectives. The new Energy Academy model between higher education and companies makes the area even more attractive for students and graduates alike.
The new model is easily recognizable by the Energy Academy name. It creates new opportunities for collaboration and promotes dialog about the rapidly changing requirements of work life between companies, schools and students. At the same time, employers have a chance for more integration in higher education.
Already at its inception, Energy Academy has been joined by every higher education institution in Vaasa: Hanken, University of Helsinki, Vaasa University of Applied Sciences, University of Vaasa, Novia University of Applied Sciences and the Åbo Akademi University. Companies and other organizations involved in the collaboration include ABB Oy, Danfoss, EnergyVaasa, Hitachi ABB Power Grids, Merinova, the City of Vaasa, Vaasan Sähkö, VASEK and Wärtsilä Finland. Energy Academy is hoping to include as many other energy cluster companies as possible.
The Vaasa Region offers professionals tempting career possibilities, an international living environment and marvelously unique coastal nature.
‘For us, it is important to participate in ensuring future workforce availability. We do this by cooperating with higher education institutions and local companies. We want to show that the Vaasa Region is an area that offers attractive work possibilities and leisure activities. We offer significant jobs in many fields and the new opportunities from the battery industry will only add to these. Together, we must support the creation of career paths even before graduation. This way we can get young people to stay here once they leave school. Therefore, promoting cooperation between different actor is a common and important goal for us all,’ highlights Mayor of Vaasa Tomas Häyry.
Extraordinary experiences from mentoring
Energy Academy is unique as it brings together schools and local companies and other actors under one umbrella. The objective is to achieve an easily identifiable system that young people see as a positive competitive advantage when choosing a place to learn.
Once activities start, cooperation will manifest as research and course collaboration, mentoring programs and an interdisciplinary student event Smart Technology Hub Ecosystem Challenge (STHEC). Cooperation will be constantly developed according to the needs of companies and higher education institutions and students’ feedback.
Due to be launched this fall, the mentoring program was piloted last year with Hitachi ABB Power Grids, Vaasa University of Applied Sciences and the University of Vaasa. Viljami Turpeinen, who studies in the University of Vaasa Strategic Business Development graduate program was one of the students participating in the Energy Academy mentoring pilot program.
‘Mentoring provides students with a guiderail towards working life. This allowed me to spend the summer working in the Hitachi ABB Power Grids Market Intelligence department and my thesis is also aimed at them.’
Authentic corporate challenges
The first common Energy Academy activity is the STHEC. During this hackathon-type event, student teams solve authentic corporate and regional challenges. The intensive two-day event offers students an opportunity to collaborate with companies and demonstrate their know-how.
The STHEC concept was initially developed by Wärtsilä and partners and is now being adopted to the whole Energy Academy. STHEC is a virtual event happening during November 11–12, 2021 and registrations open today, on September 13.
More information about the Energy Academy partnership, participating partners and opportunities for joining the network is available at: www.energyvaasa.fi/energyacademy
#WeAreEnergyAcademy
12.8.2021
FREYR Battery (“FREYR”), a developer of next-generation battery cell production capacity, have entered into two memoranda of understanding (“MoU”) with Finnish Minerals Group and the City of Vaasa, respectively, for strategic collaborations on potential development of industrial scale battery cell technology and production in Finland.
Along with the MoU with the City of Vaasa, FREYR holds an exclusive right up until 22nd July 2022 to the selected 90-hectare (900,000-square-meter) site for a potential battery cell plant, subject to certain conditions related to the progress of the project being met, and a cooperation for joint site-development to accelerate supply of low-carbon and cost efficient batteries in Finland.
“Vaasa offers an attractive location for a battery cell production plant inside the EU, with access to local, short-travelled raw materials, abundant renewable power and cooling water, plus an existing cluster of leading suppliers for the battery value chain,” says Tom Einar Jensen, the CEO of FREYR.
“The natural advantages offered by the area combined with the Vaasa region’s forward-thinking leadership, planning and actions to take a pole position within the EU and sustainable battery cell manufacturing provides a strong foundation for a potential long-term cooperation.”
Read FREYR Battery’s press release
Finnish Minerals Group acts as an owner in the Finnish mining and chemical industry, providing low-carbon materials to the battery industry supportive of establishing local Nordic and European battery technology supply chains. The company manages the Finnish State’s mining industry shareholdings, and is working actively to develop a local lithium-ion battery value chain and is engaged in long-term technology development of the mining and battery industry.
Read Finnish Mineral Group’s press release
“We are proud to welcome FREYR to our city as part of our work to facilitate the next stage of development of modern, sustainable export industry in the Vaasa region. We are very happy that our work on the battery value chain proceeds logically. For all this time, the goal has been to be able to make the whole value chain possible, and after Johnson Matthey’s announcement last spring, this is a logical next step. We can see significant synergies with already existing commitments and existing EnergyVaasa companies. We also see great potential for Nordic Battery Belt development together with FREYR. Connectable material and flow of goods create sustainable cost-effective solution opportunities where everyone benefits”, says Tomas Häyry, Mayor of Vaasa.
“We are pleased to note the work of establishing a battery cell plant located in Vaasa is moving forward. As defined in our national battery strategy, we are determined to build a strong battery ecosystem in Finland. The plans published today fit extremely well in what we are trying to achieve”, says Mika Lintilä, Minister of Economic Affairs, Finland.
“We warmly welcome FREYR to Finland to join the Finnish battery ecosystem to combat the climate change in a sustainable manner. The decision builds on the Finnish competitive business environment with focus on sustainability, innovation and circular economy in line with Finland‘s National Battery Strategy. FREYR’s decision will further strengthen the role of Finland as an integral part of the fast growing European battery value chain. This will also create new possibilities for Nordic regional cooperation. The project will significantly accelerate innovations, economic growth and jobs creation in Finland and beyond”, says Markku Kivistö, Head of Cleantech, Invest in, Business Finland.
The GigaVaasa industrial area is dedicated for battery value chain manufacturing and offers accessible and green energy system options. FREYR has initiated preparations for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This industrial zone is well placed logistically, with good rail and road connections, a short distance to the harbor and an airport on its doorstep.
About FREYR Battery
FREYR plans to develop up to 43 GWh of battery cell production capacity by 2025 with an ambition of up to 83 GWh in total capacity by 2028 to position the company as one of Europe’s largest battery cell suppliers. Five of the facilities will be located in the Mo i Rana industrial complex in Northern Norway, leveraging Norway’s highly skilled workforce and abundant, low-cost renewable energy sources from hydro and wind in a crisp, clear and energized environment. FREYR will supply safe, high energy density and cost competitive clean battery cells to the rapidly growing global markets for electric vehicles, energy storage, and marine applications. FREYR is committed to supporting cluster-based R&D initiatives and the development of an international ecosystem of scientific, commercial, and financial stakeholders to support the expansion of the battery value chain in our region.
For more information, please visit www.freyrbattery.com.
12.8.2021
Watch the Gigavaasa videos.
Johnson Matthey chose Vaasa for sustainable battery materials plant
19.04.2021
The City of Vaasa and Johnson Matthey have signed a Common Letter of Intent on 2 April 2021. The front-end engineering design for the battery value chain operator Johnson Matthey’s commercial plant in Vaasa has begun. The plant is planned to be in operation in 2024.
Regarding Johnson Matthey’s press release today, we are happy to announce that the front-end engineering design for the battery value chain operator Johnson Matthey’s commercial plant in Vaasa has begun.
The City of Vaasa and Johnson Matthey have signed a Common Letter of Intent on 2 April 2021. Contract details are to be finalized by the end of 2021. The reservation concerns approximately 50 ha plot situated in Vaasa. The plant is planned to be in operation in 2024.
– We are pleased to announce our plant will be located in Vaasa – a region that aims to create an ecosystem of sustainable technologies. Vaasa has a favourable battery materials ecosystem, offering reliable access to renewable energy, sustainable raw materials and proximity to major European automotive OEM and cell manufacturers, commented Robert MacLeod, CEO of Johnson Matthey.
Read Johnson Matthey’s press release
Finnish Minerals Group is planning investments to develop auxiliary processes needed in the production of battery materials production. These investments are linked to Johnson Matthey’s investment in Vaasa. Finnish Minerals Group aims to develop and deploy novel technological solutions for treating sodium sulphate at a production scale, as well as implement production of selected metallic raw materials.
Read Finnish Mineral Group’s press release
– We have had very close and effective cooperation with Johnson Matthey. We share common values and ambitions for a sustainable future. This is a positive next step, we continue to develop this whole area in co-creation with all stakeholders, Finnish Minerals Group, and naturally other potential battery value chain actors, says Tomas Häyry, Mayor of Vaasa.
– This is excellent news, not only for our energy cluster, but also for the region as a whole. We have a strong competence in the area of sustainable technology solutions and sustainable logistics arrangements. In Vaasa, we have the possibility to develop the greenest battery value chain in the world. It is very valuable for Finland to get this activity to Vaasa, says Häyry.
– Johnson Matthey’s decision to plan battery material production investment to Vaasa, Finland together with Finnish battery ecosystem aligns well with our national battery strategy. Our target is to become an internationally important actor in the battery and electrification sector in sustainable circular economy manner. This decision shows also that Finland can provide an attractive environment for new investments and the expansion of existing operations, says Mika Lintilä, Minister of Economic Affairs, Finland.
Read Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment’s press release
– We warmly welcome Johnson Matthey to Vaasa, Finland and to join Finnish Battery ecosystem. The project builds on Finnish competitive business environment and on strong focus on sustainability, innovation and circular economy in line with our national battery strategy. The growth of Finnish battery cluster is expected to further accelerate innovations, sustainable economic growth, wellbeing, skills and jobs in Finland, says Markku Kivistö, Head of Cleantech, Invest in, Business Finland.
The construction of the site will begin later this year in the so-called GigaVaasa Area in Vaasa. This industrial area is dedicated for battery value chain manufacturing and offers accessible and green energy system options. The GigaVaasa industrial zone is well placed logistically, with good rail and road connections, a short distance to the harbor and an airport on its doorstep.
Over 160 energy technology companies are situated in the Vaasa region, enabling excellent collaboration opportunities, and the intensive cooperation between the energy technology hub and the local universities helps educate skilled workforce to meet the needs of the industry.
Johnson Matthey is a global leader in science that enables a cleaner and healthier world. With over 200 years of sustained commitment to innovation and technological breakthroughs, we improve the performance, function and safety of our customers’ products and in 2020 we received the London Stock Exchange’s Green Economy Mark, given to companies that derive more than 50% of revenues from environmental solutions. Our science has a global impact in areas such as low emission transport, pharmaceuticals, chemical processing and making the most efficient use of the planet’s natural resources. Today more than 15,000 Johnson Matthey professionals collaborate with our network of customers and partners to make a real difference to the world around us. For more information, visit www.matthey.com
New date for EnergyWeek and 2021 EnergyVaasa talks concept
22.10.2020
EnergyVaasa Talks webinars introduce energy themes throughout year 2021
The organizers of EnergyWeek, the international high-end energy business event, will launch a new energy webinar series EnergyVaasa Talks in January 2021. The webinar series spans the entire year 2021, and the themes of the webinars are broadly related to energy technology.
EnergyWeek 2020 was one of the first major events that had to be moved to a later date due to the coronavirus pandemic. More than 4,500 visitors from nearly 30 different countries visit EnergyWeek each year, and the program includes a lot of meetings and encounters, which is why the organizing of the event and a new date have been considered specifically from a security perspective.
EnergyVaasa Communications & Brand Manager Kristoffer Jansson, who coordinates EnergyWeek, has been planning the next EnergyWeek together with the other organizers during October. Based on feedback received from exhibitors, organizing the event in the familiar format was not considered possible during 2021.
By contrast, organizing EnergyWeek in the spring of 2022 in the form of an extensive seminar and networking event was seen as a realistic option. The organizers decided therefore to arrange the next traditional EnergyWeek on 21–24 March 2022, with over 100 speakers at more than 20 different seminars.
In 2021, the EnergyWeek organizing bodies (more than 30 organizations) are planning to launch a webinar series called EnergyVaasa Talks that will help tune in to the EnergyWeek atmosphere throughout the whole year. The first webinars, free of charge and open to everyone, will take place as early as in January, and more detailed information on the content and speakers of the first webinars will be released during November and December.
– Of course, the safety of participants and organizers is the most important thing in this situation. Therefore, EnergyWeek’s partners and organizing bodies are committed to organizing the best possible online events during 2021. EnergyWeek’s program will be held in smaller chunks as EnergyVaasa Talks webinars throughout the year, Jansson says.
– Our focus is not only on the EnergyVaasa Talks webinar series, but also on March 2022, when you can spend a full-scale EnergyWeek in Vaasa. The familiar high-end energy event will be back, a little later than we originally thought back in March 2020, but renewed, stronger, and more diverse than ever, Jansson assures.
EnergyVaasa Talks
- Online events open to everyone, free of charge, in English
- Organized by EnergyWeek’s organizing bodies and partners (30 organizations)
- First webinars are planned to be held in January, the series goes on throughout 2021
EnergyWeek
- Annual, international energy technology event
- Gap years in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus situation
- 4.600 visitors expected in Vaasa on 21–24 March 2022
- Over 20 seminars in English in four days
- Over 100 speakers
- Evolved from a seminar week to become also a networking and expert event
