WALCC Forum September 17-18, 2024: Forming springboards together
Site visits, 17 September 2024
The WALCC Forum kicked off with site visits to Kilpilahti, where the group was welcomed by Jori Sahlsten, Senior Vice President of Refinery and Terminal operations, Oil products at Neste. Sahlsten presented Neste’s plans to transition to non-fossil fuel production as the Kilpilahti area moves towards circularity. The decision to adopt a renewables-based strategy puts it at the front of the green transition and the Porvoo refinery will set the stage for others to follow.
The tour continued to ABB’s Smart Buildings facility in Porvoo where Jonas Söderström, Business development at ABB, shared his insights from the factory’s transition to fully carbon-neutral operation. In addition to this remarkable feat, the factory is moving strongly into the use of renewable and fully bio-based plastics in its products, with 10% of its products now based on renewables. The factory also stands as an example of the integration of automation and robotics to amplify the work of its employees. The integration of 50 robots into its production line has not only increased efficiency but allowed the factory to remain in Porvoo and continue to employ its 100 staff members.
The first day of the Forum concluded with a dinner hosted by the City of Porvoo at Bistro Sinne.
Enabling Tiger Leaps Forum, September 18th, 2024
The second day began at Porvoo’s Art Factory with opening addresses from the Minister of Local and Regional Government Anna-Kaisa Ikonen, the Chair of the WALCC and Vice-President of System Drives at ABB, Peter Lindgren, and Porvoo’s newly appointed Mayor Jani Pitkäniemi. Together, the three opening addresses set the stage for the day’s discussion on tiger leaps, the role of cities in spurring the green transition, and the potential inherent in innovation collaboration.
In the first discussion of the day, Johan Wallin, Honorary Chair of the WALCC and Managing Partner of Synocus, and Mikko Kosonen, Chair of Aalto University, introduced the concept of tiger leaps and the springboards that enable them. The framework would serve to structure the day’s discussions.
The following session, moderated by Fredrik Pressler, CEO of Posintra, hosted a discussion between Fredrick von Schoultz, Deputy Mayor of Porvoo, Juha Moilanen, Head of Hydrogen and CO2 reduction projects at Neste, and Jarkko Tuomainen, Program Manager at Borealis Polymers. The four discussed the potential for the City of Porvoo and the companies active in the area to drive the green transition through collaboration that shares resources and enables new entrants through a common platform. The discussion expressed a strong belief in the need to encourage companies, both small and large, to make investments in this transformation.
Johan Wallin moderated the panel on the future of the hydrogen industry with panelists Simo Säynevirta, Head of ABB Green Electrification Ecosystem at ABB, Satu Sipola, Vice President, Hydrogen and Project Execution at Fortum & Board member of WALCC, and Heli Virkki, Head of Hydrogen Valley Development at Gasgrid Finland. The discussion highlighted the need for a shared vision among the burgeoning industry’s actors to capitalize on the existing strong foundation in Finland. While development is moving fast, the domestic industry, supported by the national government to share risks, must take the lead now as first movers will see greater benefits.
The afternoon session began with an overview of the opportunities presented by EU programs and the role the Helsinki Uusimaa Regional Council plays in supporting local companies. In response to calls from Borealis and Neste for Finnish companies to make more noise, Venla Virkamäki, Senior Adviser, EU Affairs for the Helsinki Uusimaa Regional Council emphasized the role that EU projects and collaboration can play in spreading awareness of domestic excellence.
There were two parallel sessions devoted to the built environment, developed by the Nordic Superblocks as Decarbonization Catalysts (NSDC walcc.org/nsdc) initiative. The session led by Toni Tuomola, Regional Manager at Skanska featured panelists Charlotte Nyholm, Chief Specialist at Granlund, Ilkka Kasari, Energy Specialist at JIS-Automation, and Francesco Cellerino, Researcher from Politecnico di Milano. This session discussed the shaping of cities for sustainability and livability as cities drive their own initiatives for carbon neutrality. To act as collaboration platforms driving decarbonization, Superblock entities will need modular systems, the scalability of energy concepts, and stronger engagement of residents. In addition, there should be a focus on the utilization of existing spaces and the circularity of materials and structures.
Kaisa Väänänen, Professor from Tampere University, led the session on the potential digitalization holds to engage residents in city development together with Fredrik Jansson, Head of Business Development, Energy & Utilities at Tietoevry, Airi Mölsä, Senior Specialist at KONE, and Anniina Autero, Project Manager from the City of Tampere. New digital technologies such as AR, VR, and digital twins can be used alongside AI-aided feedback and survey solutions to bring the development of local areas closer to the everyday lives of residents. The discussion suggested the key lies in offering a comprehensive view of the plans stretching into the future.
The Forum continued with the summary of the two parallel sessions on the built environment and a plenary discussion on the role the Alliance can play in driving the formation of tiger leaps. Kirsten Sainio of Synocus presented an illustration summarizing how the interpretation of the tiger leaps concept had been deepened during the day. There is a need for a springboard community with a shared vision encouraging others to join the effort to make tiger leaps.
Regarding the development in Porvoo, Fredrik Pressler observed a new phase of activity taking shape that, after ten years of work to strengthen public-private collaboration in the Porvoo region, has now achieved a new level of enthusiasm engaging all parties in driving concrete initiatives forward. Mikko Kosonen, moderator of the session, noted that the development in the Porvoo region adheres to the four core principles, containing a shared vision, courage among the participants, strong collaboration, and apt timing.
The concluding discussion, led by Peter Lindgren and featuring Satu Sipola and Johan Wallin, found a wealth of inspiration in the day’s spirit of enthusiasm and the concrete steps already being taken to achieve the joint vision of a more sustainable tomorrow. With that, the Alliance’s Chair closed the 2024 Forum by thanking the City of Porvoo, Alliance members, and all partners and hoped to see them again next autumn.