Sustainable Energy Systems
Meeting the energy challenge will require significant investments in development and new skills. In particular, the research area on sustainable energy systems will support the regional themes of the energy transition through applied research.
Solutions to the challenges of the energy transition as an emergent field
Towards a sustainable energy system
The sustainable energy systems research area was established in 2023, when it was also identified as one of the emergent fields in Xamk’s strategy. This is a continuation of the energy efficiency development work we have been working on since 2013. The aim is to grow in the coming years into a research unit that can better respond to the needs of the energy transition at regional and national level.
Towards a sustainable energy system – sector integration at the heart
Important regional themes supported by the research area include:
- energy efficiency
- renewable energy production
- energy storage
- battery cluster
- hydrogen valley
Sector integration is a new opening in our applied research and at the heart of our development work, bringing together the themes mentioned above. Sector integration combines electricity, heat and gas into an intelligent energy system. By linking energy sources to each other and to end-users such as buildings, transport and industry, a more sustainable energy system is possible, with a better balance between peaks in consumption and production.
Towards a sustainable energy system – an innovative RDI environment
We are currently building the first phase of our RDI environment in Kymenlaakso for applied research in sector integration. The RDI environment will include renewable energy production, various energy storage options and an intelligent energy management system. A research well on geoenergy, to be set up in collaboration with GTK, will also be part of the RDI environment.
Towards a sustainable energy system – in cooperation with energy technology education
We work closely with the Degree Programme in Energy Engineering in Kotka. Students are extensively involved in regional projects related to energy efficiency. We are also creating a continuum for the study path from vocational school to university.
An example of co-development is the training of skilled workers designed for the battery industry. The training package will become part of the energy technology curriculum. The training will cover the different aspects of the battery value chain, with green values, responsibility and safety as cross-cutting themes.
Towards a sustainable energy system – business-driven research using networks
It is important for us to carry out applied research for businesses and public actors, and our projects involve a wide range of stakeholder partners. Our emerging RDI environment will serve businesses in the region as they seek answers to the energy transition.
We are actively involved in both national and international networks that connect us to a broad research community. Examples include the Power Coast battery cluster, the Finnish Hydrogen Valley Association and eseia, the European Sustainable Energy Innovation Alliance.
Over the years, we have also developed energy efficiency through real pilot sites. For example, we have developed the energy efficiency of various sports facilities and public spaces by monitoring, implementing and analysing innovative solutions for ventilation and heating.
Research and development projects
Energy smart urban environment
GENESIS – Green energy system and new sector integration value chains
Geoenergy Leap
Southeast Finland battery cluster education project
Smart grid and energy community pilot in Mussalo, Kotka
Green hydrogen and carbon dioxide to empower South-East Finland
Publications
Conference and journal articles
Kuosa, Maunu; Laine, Turo; Pitkänen, Milla; Wehrenbrecht, Nina; Sarvelainen, Hannu, Development of training regarding the future manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries in the Kymenlaakso region in Finland. 12. Eur. Conf. Ren. Energy Sys. 16–17 May 2024, Mallorca, Spain
Korpela, Tuija; Sarvelainen, Hannu; Juusola, Timo; Tuliniemi, Erja; Kuosa, Maunu; Rahiala, Sirpa; Jernström, Petteri, Utilisation of moist exhaust air for preheating air a swimming hall ventilation system with a heat pump and heat recovery technology, REGWA Energy Symposium, www.hochschule-stralsund.de/storages/hs-stralsund/IRES/Tagungsband_2023.pdf
Mäkelä, Merja; Laine, Turo; Kiviranta, Paulus; Tuliniemi, Erja, Activation to elasticity in electricity and heat consumption, European Conference on Renewable Energy Systems,
Altarriba, Elias; Rahiala, Sirpa; Tanhuanpää, Taru, Open-loop Scrubbers and Restricted Waterways: A Case Study Investigation of Travemünde Port and Increased Sulphur Emissions Immediately After the Scrubbers are Turned Off, Transnav, DOI: 10.12716/1001.17.02.24
Altarriba, Elias; Rahiala, Sirpa; Tanhuanpää, Taru; Piispa, Marko, Developing sustainable shipping and maritime transport: Multi-criteria analysis between emission abatement methods, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part M: Journal of Engineering for the Maritime Environment, DOI: 10.1177/14750902231199132
Mäkelä, Merja; Laine, Turo; Höök, Tomi; Tuliniemi, Erja, Progress steps in green transition – role of electricity consumption elasticity, REGWA Energy Symposium
Altarriba, Elias; Rahiala, Sirpa; Tanhuanpää, Taru; Piispa, Marko, Improving the environmental performance of shipping and maritime transport – Highlights of the maritime emissions workshop, International Conference on Maritime Technology and Engineering, DOI: 10.1201/9781003320289
Altarriba, Elias; Rahiala, Sirpa; Tanhuanpää, Taru; Piispa, Marko, Developing sustainable shipping and maritime transport: Multi-criteria analysis between emission abatement methods, International Congress of International Maritime Association of the Mediterranean, DOI: doi.org/10.1201/9781003358961
Korpela, Tuija; Kuosa, Maunu; Sarvelainen, Hannu; Tuliniemi, Erja; Kiviranta, Paulus; Tallinen, Kirsi; Koponen, Hanna-Kaisa, Waste heat recovery potential in residential apartment buildings in Finland’s Kymenlaakso region by using mechanical exhaust air ventilation and heat pumps, International Journal of Thermofluids, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijft.2021.100127
Kuosa, Maunu; Kiviranta, Paulus; Sarvelainen, Hannu; Tuliniemi, Erja; Korpela, Tuija; Tallinen, Kirsi; Koponen, Hanna-Kaisa, Optimisation of district heating production by utilising the storage capacity of a district heating network on the basis of weather forecasts, Results in engineering, DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.2021.100318
Sarvelainen, Hannu; Tuliniemi, Erja; Korpela, Tuija; Kuosa, Maunu, Energy efficiency optimization of actively used and underused buildings based on demand-controlled ventilation according to indoor climate, Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Technology Symposium, URN:NBN:fi-fe2019112143428
Kuosa, Maunu; Rahiala, Sirpa; Tallinen, Kirsi; Mäkilä, Tapio; Lampinen, Markku; Lahdelma, Risto; Pulkkinen, Lasse, Mass flow controlled district heating with an extract air heat pump in apartment buildings: A practical concept study, Applied thermal engineering, DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.113745
Join us in the world of research and development! How can we serve you?
We work with a wide range of stakeholders and are constantly looking for new partners. We would be happy to tell you more about opportunities to get involved in research and development at the cutting edge.
In the list below you can see the persons responsible and the specialists in our research area. Feel free to contact us!
Persons responsible
Specialists
