Program 2026
Future Energy Solutions 2026 presentation materials will be added to the bottom of this page as publication permissions are received from the speakers.
FUTURE ENERGY SOLUTIONS 2026
Energy Meets Industry
TUESDAY 8 SEPTEMBER
10.00 – 12.00
Registration, Coffee and Networking
Coffee will be served in the City Theatre lobby, where you can also explore the exhibition area.
10.00 – 12.00
Lunch
Lunch is at your own expense and can be enjoyed at one of the many nearby restaurants in the city centre.
12.00 – 13.45
WELCOME SESSION – THE ENERGY SYSTEM IS BUILT TOGETHER
Opening remarks
Moderator Johannes Malkamäki
Greetings from the City of Lappeenranta,
Sanna Koskenranta, Chair of the City Board
Keynote
Clean Investments – What, where, who, how much, when?
Timo Ritonummi, The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, TEM
Keynote
The Big Picture: Energy Transition as a System-Level Transformation
Jukka Ruusunen, LUT University
Panel Discussion
From Strategy to Practice: Developing PtX Ecosystems and Hydrogen Valleys
Moderator: Eeva Lähdesmäki, LUT University
Opening: Muhammad Imran Asghar, Tampere University
Panelists:
Riitta Silvennoinen, Hydrogen Cluster Finland
Muhammad Imran Asghar, Tampere University
Niko Salonen, Norsk e-Fuel
Marita Jaatinen, Business Tampere
Energy Communities in Practice: Connecting EU Policy with Regional Action
Xavier Cipriano, Beedata Analytics / CIMNE
13.45 – 14.45 Coffee and Networking
14.45 – 16.30
ENERGY = SECURITY
Opening remarks
Moderator Johannes Malkamäki
From Crisis to Resilience: What Ukraine Teaches Europe About Secure and Flexible Energy Systems for the Green Transition
Mykhailo Vydoinyk, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Finland
From Dependency to Resilience: Nordic Pathways to Energy Independence
Lasse Bergerud-Wichstrøm, Freija
From Piloting to Commercial-Scale: Carbon Capture in Forest Industry
Minna Mentzer, Metsä Group
Boundary Conditions for CO2 Value Chains: From Emissions to a Resource
Joonas Mustonen, LAB University of Applied Sciences
Panel Discussion
Building Secure and Resilient Energy Futures: Science Meets Industry
Moderator: Kateryna Kryzhanivska, LUT University
Opening: Anne-Laure Mention, RMIT University
Panelists:
Muhammad Ghazanfar Abdullah, LUT University
Giovanni Foppiani, LUT University
Niilo Hendolin, Elstor
Asmo Karvinen, Kymenlaakson Sähköverkko KSOY
Anne-Laure Mention, RMIT University
19 – 21 Networking Event at Kehruuhuone
Location: Kehruuhuone, Kristiinankatu 20, 53900 Lappeenranta
WEDNESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER
8.30 – 9.00 Coffee and Networking
9.00 – 10.30
POWERING TOMORROW – INVEST IN CLEAN ENERGY
Opening remarks
Moderator Johannes Malkamäki
Clean Energy from Canada
Patrick Hébert, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to the Republic of Finland
Achieving Net Zero at Regional Scale: Lessons from Sønderborg
Allan Pilgaard-Jensen, Project Zero
Technology as an Enabler: Electrification Driving Decarbonisation
Teemu Heikkilä, Danfoss Editron
The Power of We: Unlocking Growth Through Strategic Collaboration
Sari Kola, Merinova
Transforming Research into New Innovation & Business: Advancing Green Hydrogen Technology in Finland
Sampo Vilve, LUT University
10.30 – 11.00 Coffee and Networking
11.00 – 12.15
BUILDING A NEW ENERGY BACKBONE
Opening remarks
Moderator Johannes Malkamäki
Who Benefits from Data Centers?
Lauri Ikonen, Finnish Data Center Association FDCA, Polarnode
Case Example: Google’s excess heat heating Hamina, a small Finnish city
Kalevi Mattila, Haminan Energia
Nuclear district heating – from paper to pilot
Kristjan Mihhels, Steady Energy
Technology and Society: Three Points to Reflect on Sustainability Transitions from Academia
Ivan Ojeda-Pedeira, LUT University & Ilkka Räsänen, City of Lappeenranta
12:30 – 15:00 Biotalousverkosto 2030 – Itäisen Suomen kasvun tekijät
Invitation-only event (in Finnish)
Paikka: Original Sokos Hotel Lappee, Brahenkatu 1, Linnoitus-kabinetti