Sari Kola
Director, EnergySampo ecosystem
email: sari.kola@merinova.fi
An agreement made by seven global energy technology companies with operations in Finland
A unique new kind of co-creation platform
The Problem: Climate change is a reality and we need to do something fast. The global average surface temperature increased about 0,97 to 1,21 °C throughout 1850–2022. Global greenhouse gas emissions are expected to rise by 50% by 2050, owing primarily to CO2 emissions from non-renewable energy use, leading to a continuing rise of temperature estimated at 1,09 °C. We all see the results, with rising temperatures and forest fires, melting icebergs, flooding and extreme weather conditions.
Importance: Today, only 4.5% of countries have achieved carbon neutrality, and most countries are still planning to do so by 2050–2070. As of February 2021, 124 countries worldwide have declared their intention to become carbon neutral and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 or 2060.
Purpose: EnergySampo ecosystem exists to co-create carbon-neutral energy solutions for a sustainable future. The founding members, ABB, Danfoss, Hitachi Energy, Vaasan Sähkö, VEO, VMT Capital and Wärtsilä, are all innovative companies with global reach. They have decades of history in innovating together in the Vaasa Region. By joining forces in an innovation ecosystem, they can solve problems that none of them cannot solve alone. Together, the companies invest over 200 MEUR in innovation and development annually. The ecosystem collaboration is about making the most of that investment by creating joint research and development projects to come up with innovative solutions for the future, about joint customer-deliveries of comprehensive solutions and joint funding arrangements of relevant projects.
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Panel discussion
Stefan Damlin
CEO, Vaasan Sähkö
Olli-Pekka Aalto
Head of Global Energy & Power, Danfoss Drives
Timo Keski-Valkama
Vice President, Industry Sector, Hitachi Energy Vaasa
Jarmo Saaranen
Partner, VNT Management
Managing Partner and Chairman at VNT Management Oy. Saaranen has served research and development, sales, supply chain, production and business line management positions at ABB from 1984 to 2003. Several board positions in startup and growth companies in energy sector.
Hannu Mäntymaa
Head of Voyage Business, Wärtsilä
Timo Ala-Heikkilä
CEO, VEO
EnergySampo