Research and development

Aiming for a carbon-neutral future

Helsingin Energia's research and development (R&D) activities support the implementation of strategically important goals. Active participation in the mitigation of climate change is one of our key focus areas: the goal of our research and development activities is to enable a carbon-neutral future at Helsingin Energia. This involves several extensive development areas, such as technologies related to carbon dioxide capture and storage, offshore wind power in arctic conditions, and bioenergy plants in combined heat, power and cooling generation.

Helsingin Energia and its subsidiaries and associated companies have extensive operations in various sectors of energy research: fuel selections, energy generation, energy distribution systems, and energy efficiency. At Helsingin Energia, R&D investments amounted to 0.3% of net sales in 2008.

Last year, the research and development organisation at the Helen Group underwent a reorganisation into an extensive network between the business operations and subsidiaries. This entity is co-ordinated by the corporate research and development manager.

The research and development network
has four strategic focus areas:

Energy future

The Helen Group is being prepared for the future steps of the energy market, and the future energy uses are assessed based on the development trends in technological development, urban planning, energy policy, and consumer behaviour and attitudes. The study will provide a forecast on the needs for electric, heat and cooling energy in Helsinki until 2050.

Asset management

Builds up and plans the Group's investment portfolio far into the future from the asset management point of view. The Group is in the possession of several energy production plants and extensive heat and power networks. In this context, possible impacts of the economic trends and markets on the management of the investment portfolio and maintenance programmes are forecast and analysed.

Production

Solutions of future energy production are planned in order to increase the use of renewable and low-emission energy sources in power, heat and cooling generation. The development of future production technologies is assessed, and alternative entities of the Helen Group's energy production are formed, with a vision of carbon-neutral energy generation by 2050.

Energy innovations

Possibilities of applying new energy innovations in Helsinki are studied and developed. The first research areas include energy-efficiency innovations and electric vehicle charging systems.

International and Finnish research activities

Intensive national and extensive international co-operation are preconditions for the development of solutions for future energy systems. On the initiative of the Science and Technology Policy Council of Finland, strategic centres for science, technology and innovation have been established in Finland, one of which is CLEEN Oy (Cluster for Energy and Environment). Helsingin Energia is participating in a joint research and development venture in the energy sector as one of the major shareholders in the research work. The research areas include carbon-neutral energy production, biofuels, smart grids, energy efficiency, and distributed energy systems. Helsingin Energia has appointed ten top experts in the research areas for this nationally significant joint venture.

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