Experiences of European Technological Centres in innovation

in Energy: Technological assets and research with business

applications

Prof. Dr. Abdul Samad (Sami) Kazi

Senior Principal Scientist
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd

This project is funded by

The European Union
 VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd

75 years experience in VTT is one of the leading R&D&I

supporting our clients
growth with top-level organisations in Northern Europe.
research and science-
based results. We provide expert services for our
Learn more: domestic and international customers
www.vttresearch.com,
#vttpeople, @VTTFinland and partners, both in private and public
sectors.

* Loikkanen, T. et al. Roles, effectiveness, and impact of VTT. Towards broad-based impact monitoring of a research and
technology organisation. 2013. VTT, Espoo. VTT Technology 113. 106 p. + app. 5 p.

Net turnover and other operating income Personnel 2,414

269 M (VTT Group 2016) (VTT Group 2016)

Unique research and testing infrastructure Wide national and international

cooperation network
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 We address challenges of global significance

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VTTs R&D infrastructure an essential part
of the national research infrastructure

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 RENEWABLE ENERGY SMART ENERGY SYSTEMS
Waste to Energy, Bioenergy Technology and business foresight
From waste and biomass to fuel, heat and power
Energy efficiency solutions
Integrated concepts
Transport
Wind and solar Industry
Concentrated Solar Power integration Buildings and districts
Grid integration of wind power and photovoltaics
Operation and maintenance solutions
New technical opportunities
Fuel cell technology Data analytics
Power to Gas, P2X

SMART CITIES NUCLEAR POWER

Smart transport systems Reactor safety and licensing support
Key Performance Indicators, visualization Plant life management
Energy efficient buildings & districts Spent fuel management and disposal
Augmented Reality Next generation nuclear technologies
Human thermal comfort

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Renewable Energy

Power-to-gas optimization
Projects: Neo-Carbon Energy (Tekes), SmartP2G2 (EIT Digital), R3Water (FP7)

The intermittent nature of renewable energy causes

fluctuations in energy market prices and energy
balancing market prices.

VTT has developed a software platform that enables

dynamic gas production and utilizes energy market
instruments in order to produce gas at an affordable
price. Simultaneously, the solution helps to balance
the energy grid. Electrical energy is used to transform Cost efficient production of gases like hydrogen, oxygen or
water and air into useful gases like hydrogen, oxygen nitrogen.
and nitrogen. Hydrogen can be further refined in
Efficient use of intermittent renewable energy.
integrated processes into substitute natural gas,
biofuel and other power-to-X products. Increased stability of the energy grid.

This project is funded by

The European Union
Smart Energy Systems

Energy system planning and electricity market simulation

Customers and partners: Governments, energy companies, energy technology developers
Projects: REserviceS, FLEXe, WILMAR

The transition towards a low-carbon energy system with high

Improved understanding of the value and impact of
amounts of variable renewable generation is changing the roles of
energy market actors and new business models are needed. As the power system flexibility in future
cycling of thermal power plants is increasing, more and more investments in generation, storage, transmission
attention is paid to the business logic for investing in flexible thermal and demand side flexibility
generation. On the other hand, ancillary services needed by the
power system can be provided by various sources in future, including energy and electricity market designs
renewables and flexible demand, and the business case is the best laws and regulations
for those who can provide the services in a cost-effective manner.

VTT utilises interlinked optimisation models for energy system

investment and operational planning. The development of the
operational model WILMAR Joint Market Model started in 2002
by VTT and other European research organisations. Since then,
VTT has continuously tailored the WILMAR model and the
investment model Balmorel to respond to challenges in energy
systems with high amounts of wind and solar power.

This project is funded by

The European Union
Smart Cities

Minimising energy costs and CO2 emissions for smart cities

Customers/partners: HELEN and City of Helsinki
Project: CityOpt

CITYOPT Planning tool produced and optimal design

Minimising of energy costs and CO2 emissions of broad city
in the demonstration cases: 15% cost savings and
and district level energy systems.
30% CO2 emission reductions.

VTT developed a planning tool for energy experts and investors

to find out the best combination of broad cities and districts
energy systems: CITYOPT analyses cost and system
information, enabling hence the optimisation of energy system
and minimization of energy costs and CO2 emissions.
CITYOPT Planning tool has been used in Kalasatama and
stersundom districts.

This project is funded by

The European Union
Nuclear Power

In-core testing of nuclear materials

Projects: EU fission and fusion, JHR project

Performance and lifetime of nuclear reactor core materials are

inherently depend on simultaneous effects of intense neutron flux
and mechanical stresses.

At present radiation effects are evaluated by carrying out material
irradiation and testing campaigns separately, which correspond to
conditions that are fundamentally different from those that reactor
core materials experience during reactor operation.
VTT have designed and manufactured several unique in-core
testing devices which allow material testing in irradiation
environment in a nuclear test reactors BR2 and OSIRIS in
collaboration with SCK.CEN and CEA.
Allow new insight into fundamental
understanding of material deformation
behaviour in radiation environment.
Gives a possibility to design innovative
test campaigns in material test reactors
to develop radiation resistant
materials.

This project is funded by

The European Union
 World-class Knowhow & Systemic Innovations

#VTTpeople - We make it happen!

www.vttresearch.com/services

sami.kazi@vtt.fi @SamiKaziFI SamiKaziFI