Better health for the people and the planet

Finnish Cleantech Cluster, Better health for the people and the planet

	The Finnish Meteorological Institute’s Researcher, Harri Portin, is maintaining the cloud droplet counter on the roof of the Puijo Tower

Finland, as an industrialised, energy-intensive Nordic country with a population of less than six million, is establishing ways to help the more than six billion people in fast-growing urban and poorer rural areas worldwide mitigate and adapt to climate change.

More than 200 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with specialised expertise are actively participating in the Finnish Cleantech Cluster, developing and offering proven high-technology solutions for clean air and clean energy, water technology and material efficiency.

On a larger scale, companies like Nokia and Vaisala, the world leader in weather measurements, are further success stories of where research meets business. Major research organisations include the Finnish Meteorological Institute and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.

Measure, monitor and adapt

Consumer interest in energy efficiency continues to increase. People want to be active agents and make informed choices on how to reduce their carbon footprint. Real-time information on energy use through transport, housing and nutrition is needed. Smart energy saving equipment, wireless measurements and a “smart box” to integrate and provide information to the consumer through mobile technology is one Finnish solution.

By combining the Finnish strengths in information communication technology, environmental monitoring and energy efficiency, such solutions can empower people all over the world to change their behaviour and work to mitigate climate change.

As people become increasingly aware of the adverse air quality and weather impacts of climate change, new kinds of environmental measuring and monitoring technologies that provide user-friendly services are in high demand. More importantly, users themselves want to participate in generating observations and data. Finland is a forerunner in how to best utilise earth observation data. Systems that combine official and user-generated weather and water information to facilitate flood prevention and help reduce land degradation are already working. Early warning systems of natural disasters based on mobile communications, such as a tsunami early warning system, are also being developed.

The path to cleaner air

Industry across the board is under pressure to reduce its VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) gas emissions that constitute one of the primary elements of air pollution. The contribution of VOCs to atmospheric warming is on average 12 times greater than that of CO₂. In Finland, air purification engineering companies and research organisations have built up a joint centre of expertise that produces top-level multidisciplinary research on clean air technologies, including exhaust gas catalysis and catalytic oxidation of VOC. State-of-the-art solutions developed by companies such as Ehovoc, Ecocat and Proventia using Finnish clean process know-how not only minimise emissions, but also reduce costs as less energy is needed in the treatment process.

Mobile phones can also be used to relay real-time alerts and advance warnings on urban air quality, including atmospheric fine particles, to people with respiratory problems. This is already being implemented by Finnish company Medixine, who provide advance warnings to over 30,000 patients in the UK. Connections between small-scale wood combustion technologies and health effects as well as overall effects of the alternative means of bioenergy production are also being studied. Research results are converted into new control and monitoring techniques in the climate-air quality-health network, which aims to create and develop new business opportunities.

Finland and its main cleantech centres of expertise

Tackling waste

Converting organic and biodegradable waste to energy means less methane emissions from landfills. When this energy is used to replace fossil fuels in energy generation, less CO₂ emissions result as well, thereby bringing double benefits. In Finland, waste management is based on source separation of waste ensuring the minimum material recycling requirements. Currently, industry as a whole is focusing more and more on overall material and energy efficiency which further reduces the amount of waste available for incineration. For example, Isku Teollisuus Oy, the largest furniture manufacture in Finland, has increased the efficiency of its waste recycling and waste management procedures so 90% of Isku’s by-product flow now consists of wood suitable for energy use. Another example is the development of UPM ProFi, a wood plastic composite, which is produced using the excess adhesive laminate waste product from UPM Raflatac plants.

The Finnish Cleantech Cluster brings together the best expertise from four key regions in Finland: Helsinki and the surrounding areas for environmental monitoring and energy efficiency in urban areas: Lahti for energy from waste; Kuopio for climate, air quality and health; and Oulu for catalytic air purification and water technology with the Centre of Expertise in the Water Industry Cluster. Together, these centres of expertise cover 60% of Finland’s cleantech business and 80% of cleantech research.

The Cluster’s emphasis on organic growth is carried out by encouraging collaborative projects and building pilot and demonstration facilities. The ultimate outcomes are to create innovative solutions for sustainable development and help Finnish SMEs to grow.

The Finnish Cleantech cluster welcomes the participation of international organisations.

Finnish Cleantech Cluster
W: www.cleantechcluster.fi