VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has joined forces with Lappeenranta University of Technology and the Finland Futures Research Centre at the University of Turku in the launch of an extensive development project for a brand new energy system and its associated business sector in Finland. The NEO-CARBON ENERGY project, targeting the storage of solar and wind energy, has been granted major strategic funding by Tekes – the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation for next couple of years. 
The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and endeavours to achieve energy self-sufficiency are boosting the development of emission-free energy production. Germany has thus far led the development of solar and wind power but the momentum appears to be shifting towards China and Asia. This development may well enable a genuine third energy choice alongside nuclear and fossil sources.
For Finnish trade and industry, a new energy system and its associated technologies could provide a significant opportunity to succeed in the global market. The NEO-CARBON ENERGY project creates competencies that will open doors for Finnish companies to take part in the international R&D conducted around energy production. The aim is to create a competence base and potential testing areas, enabling Finland to demonstrate that it belongs among the global elite within the field.
“Solar and wind energy can provide major opportunities to create new jobs and export products for Finland. The purpose of the project is to develop an energy system based on the storage of energy in the form of hydrocarbons, in other words conventional fuels,” says Pasi Vainikka, Project Coordinator and Principal Scientist at VTT.
Read more: Finland to lead the way in developing the storage of solar and wind energy
