Program 2025
The diverse program will include interesting expert presentations, workshops, site visits, and networking opportunities both at the partner exhibition area and during the evening program. The program will be updated on the website throughout the summer.
FUTURE ENERGY SOLUTIONS 2025
Energy Innovations
TUESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER
10.00 – 12.00
Coffee and Networking,
City Theatre lobby
10.00 – 12.00
Workshop:
Advancing Green Electrification: Horizon Europe Training to Boost EU Funding for South Karelia, Karthikeyan Natarajan and Tiina Jauhiainen, LUT University
10.00 – 12.00
Round table (open to the public):
Bottlenecks in Innovation, Research on micro and small enterprises, AKKE South-Karelian Union, Outi-Maaria Palo-oja and Minna Ikävalko, LAB University
12.00 – 13.45 WELCOME SESSION
Welcome words – Johannes Malkamäki, Moderator
Greetings from the City of Lappeenranta – Joonas Grönlund, Chair of the City Council
Keynote 1: Clean transition: Path to competitiveness and climate neutrality – Sari Multala, Minister of Climate and the Environment
Keynote 2: Finnish Innovations to save the World. A Solar Food Story. – Pasi Vainikka, Co-founder & member of board, Solar Foods
Electrification of district heating – Pauli Hiltunen, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
District heating in Lappeenranta – Arto Nikkanen, Lappeenrannan Energia
Enhanced sustainability with energy flexible buildings – Risto Kosonen, Aalto University
Case example: Sand battery by Polar Night Energy – Tommi Eronen, Polar Night Energy
13.45 – 14.15 Coffee and Networking
14.15 – 16.00 DIGITAL ENERGY SYSTEMS
Opening of the session – Johannes Malkamäki, Moderator
AI solutions in energy system – Adrian Carrasco-Revilla, Inetum
Real life sector integration case study – Nikolas Salomaa, nolla_E
Demand response of electricity – Samuli Honkapuro, LUT University
NetZero actions for the city of Copenhagen building sector – Theis Hybschmann Petersen, City of Copenhagen
Panel discussion: Experiences of digital energy system pilots
16.15 – 17.15 Workshops: Planning and developing the smart energy system
Workshop 1: Technical solutions and shared experiences from the past and ongoing projects
Workshop 2: Financing the innovative solutions for the energy system
19 – 22 Evening Cruise on Lake Saimaa
Experience a 3-hour cruise on the unique Lake Saimaa aboard M/S Camilla. The maximum number of participants is 180, so make sure to reserve your spot early!
The evening includes:
– Dinner
– Networking
– Beautiful lake scenery
– Magic entertainment
WEDNESDAY 10 SEPTEMBER
8.30 – 9.00 Coffee and Networking
9.00 – 10.30 HYDROGEN ECONOMY
Opening of the session – Johannes Malkamäki, Moderator
Vision for thermochemical conversion of PtX fuels and chemicals – tbc, LUT University
Germany’s hydrogen ramp-up and its business opportunities – Lotta Westerlund, German-Finnish Chamber of Commerce
Hydrogen network – Accelerator for growth and competitiveness – Sanni Kontinen, Hydrogen Valleys, Gasgrid
Preparation, permitting and design of a power-to-x investment in Finland – Aapo Koivuniemi, ABO Energy
10.30 – 11.00 Networking Break
11.00 – 12.30 FUTURE MOBILITY
Opening of the session – Johannes Malkamäki, Moderator
Toyota’s hydrogen-powered mobility solutions – Pekka Karvinen, Toyota Auto Finland
Perspectives on electrification of heavy traffic – Ville Naumanen, Electric Mobility Research Center
Building the Backbone of Hydrogen Mobility in Finland – Juho-Matti Uuksulainen, Vireon
Realisation of Hydrogen: Lessons and challenges – Turi Fiorito, EFIP
Lappeenranta Airport: current infrastructure and future possibilities – Jukka Himanen, Lappeenranta Airport
Discussion and wrap-up
12.30 – 13.30 Lunch Break
13.30 – 15.30 Site Visits
Pre-registration required. Transportation by bus and safety equipment will be provided. Participants will choose one of the following three parallel site visits:
1. Mertaniemi Power Plant
Presentation, followed by a guided tour of selected areas of the Mertaniemi power plant, including the district heating accumulator, electric boiler, and gas turbines.
2. Neoen Battery Storage & Elstor Thermal Storage
Introduction to the Neoen Yllikkälä Power Reserve 2, the largest battery storage facility in the Nordic countries, and the Elstor high-temperature thermal energy storage site. The visit includes expert presentations and visual insights into the facilities.
3. LUT University Power-to-X Laboratories
Tour of LUT University’s newly completed Power-to-X research facility, showcasing advanced technologies in synthetic fuels and green hydrogen production.
If you have already registered but have not selected a site visit, you can update your choice via the link provided in your registration confirmation email. A reminder and instructions will be sent by email closer to the event.