Future Proof

In the next few years, the pace of change in energy systems will accelerate even more globally, but especially in Europe, due to the green transition and the requirement to increase energy self-sufficiency. The need for change is driven by global megatrends, such as the need to reduce emissions and the growing requirements for energy and cost efficiency as well as the reliability and crisis preparedness of critical infrastructure. For example, in electricity grids, renewable, distributed production replacing traditional centralized electricity production is more challenging in terms of its characteristics, because it is both more variable (depending on weather conditions) and more sensitive in terms of dynamics (due to power electronic rectifier/ connector devices). In the future, the increasing flexibility and reliability needs of energy systems will require e.g. rapid development of various new management, control and protection solutions as well as distributed energy/flexible resource technologies and concepts (e.g. hybride powerplants, microgrid solutions). 

Various energy storages, for example battery technology and gaseous fuels, as well as cybersafe ICT solutions and data analytics / optimization will play a key enabling role in future energy systems, both in smart and flexible electricity networks and in various transport applications (e.g. in electric cars, ships and construction machines). So that the potential of decentralized, flexible energy resources (production, storage, loads, electric cars) and the simultaneous examination of other forms of energy (heat, gas, transport) could be utilized in the best possible way in the future, intelligent, active and coordinated management of the whole is needed, using telecommunication connections. 

In this project, the R&D environment already built around the University of Vaasa VEBIC laboratories (ICE, Fuel & FREESI) in previous projects is supplemented by acquiring a system enabling internal combustion engine-battery integration, a power control unit to enable hydrogen use of a single-cylinder engine, and a control room complex to further develop R&D activities in the energy and overall safety sector. The goal of these acquisitions is to enable research into the functionality of new carbon-neutral, energy-efficient and resilient energy systems of the future and the various business sectors integrated into them (e.g. built environment, transport, industry) and to help companies develop, test and more quickly commercialize new innovations, products and solutions.