Fortum to contribute 3 million euros for an energy research programme at the Helsinki University of Technology

Fortum has donated three million euros for an energy research programme at the Helsinki University of Technology. The programme is one of the key projects of the institution’s centennial year.

The energy research programme aims at producing new, internationally competitive energy technology applications, whose social impact will greatly exceed the investments. The programme focuses on energy efficiency, decentralized energy production and the use of renewable energy sources as well as bio-fuels in energy production. The programme also seeks to promote co-operation with the Finnish energy industry in order to increase competitiveness and develop Finnish expertise.

“Fortum’s vision is to be a pioneer of sustainable development, and, in the long run, to become completely CO2 emission-free. New technological breakthroughs are needed in order to build this kind of an emission-free energy system. The importance of basic research cannot be overestimated. Therefore, collaboration with universities and research institutes is very important to us," says Timo Karttinen, Fortum’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Development.

Fortum’s own research and development efforts focus on carefully selected key areas, where the goal is to attain the highest level of expertise in these particular fields. The four primary fields of development are: enable the growth of the company, contribute to climate change mitigation, contribute to the long-term non-emitting energy system and performance excellence in current operations.

In 2007, Fortum’s R&D resources were strengthened and the priorities of the research programs were directed even more clearly towards attaining long-term competitive advantages. One concrete example of Fortum's R&D efforts is a project started in January for developing a CO2 capture system at the Meri-Por power plant.


Fortum Corporation
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