Finland invites companies and research institutes to develop Åland into a smart testing site for clean energy
Finland and China will build open international testing sites for new clean energy solutions. The two countries presented their projects in a side event to the Clean Energy Ministerial in Copenhagen on 24 May 2018.
The Finnish Minister of the Environment, Energy and Housing Kimmo Tiilikainen invited companies and research institutes to develop the Åland Islands into a testing site for renewable energy sources with strong reliance on public-private partnerships.
- Energy technology and innovation can serve as significant drivers of economic growth. Finland continues to invest in new technologies that accelerate the clean energy transition and the introduction of associated resource-efficient products and services,” Minister Tiilikainen says.
The Åland Islands would be a demonstration platform for a flexible energy system, which is based on smart grids and 100% renewable energy production and use. Key elements of the system are the ability to integrate distributed renewable energy production into the overall system and respond to concurrent fluctuations in demand and supply.
The demonstration platform offers companies a unique opportunity to test new energy solutions. It is important that consumers are active operators in the system.
- Several Finnish companies and research institutes and some international operators are already planning this excellent project, which represents a real energy transition to smart and clean energy. In the project, energy users and ordinary consumers play a key role as equal participants in the electricity market,” Minister Tiilikainen says.
- Smart metering systems and dynamic electricity pricing allow us to create an electricity system with inbuilt flexibility highlighting end-users’ choices and behaviour,” Tiilikainen continues.
- The site serves as a reference for the Finnish export industry and as a unique testing ground attracting international investment and operators. In this respect, Finnish companies have expertise in energy storage minerals and chemicals, battery application services, and expertise in digitalisation and 5G networks,” Minister Tiilikainen says.
Inquiries:
Vilhartti Hanhilahti, Special Adviser to the Minister of the Environment, Energy and Housing, tel. +358 40 836 4823
Pentti Puhakka, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 50 511 7414
Tommy Jacobson, CEO, CLIC Innovation, tel. +358 40 828 2711
