EnergySampo Future Energy System

A system level view of the future of the energy system

Vaasan seudun teknologiayritykset ABB, Danfoss, Hitachi, Wärtsilä, Vaasan Sähkö, VEO ja VNT Management tekevät systeemitason yhteistyötä Vaasan Yliopiston kanssa, koska kukaan toimijoista ei voi ratkoa tulevaisuuden energiajärjestelmän haasteita yksin.

Electrification is key to of the future energy system

Electrification, hydrogen, energy storage and flexible demand are transforming the energy system all at once. A single company can develop point solutions, but system-level expertise is also needed – an understanding of how the whole system works when all of its parts are changing at the same time.

Energy technology companies in the Vaasa region invest around EUR 200 million a year in research and development work in the region. The better the shared view underpinning decisions, the better those investment decisions we can make.

Five development tracks towards new pilots

During the project, we will advance five development tracks that support system-level understanding and development::

• Novel Power Lab – a scalable research and testing environment that companies in the region can use.
• Modelling of the future energy system, making it possible to assess the impact of new solutions and to target investments more effectively according to their profitability.
• Hydrogen economy – BotH2nia Hydrogen Valley, for which we are preparing an application to the EU Horizon programme in April 2027.
• GigaVaasa – the region’s joint response to data centre collaboration, with the business model and trust first.
• Sector coupling – the integrated use of electricity, heat and other forms of energy.

Benefits for companies, research and the region

• Technology companies gain a shared, research-based situational picture to inform their investment and product development decisions.
• SMEs in the EnergyVaasa cluster can take part in co-development, use the research infrastructure and join new projects.
• Researchers and students gain real questions from companies as topics for research and doctoral dissertations.
• The city and the region gain a knowledge base for decisions on the energy system, land-use planning and economic policy.

Merinova orchestrates the collaboration

Merinova is responsible for managing the project and orchestrating the EnergySampo ecosystem. We act as a neutral facilitator, which enables even competing companies to develop joint projects under agreed rules that comply with competition law. In the previous period, the ecosystem’s initiatives received five positive funding decisions.

We report on the project’s progress and results at EnergySampo Forums, EnergyWeek, Wasa Future Festival and on LinkedIn. We also support our partner companies in taking the results into their own organisations.