Facilitating the development and conceptualization of a joint innovative energy solution

Background

The European Union has set a target of carbon neutrality by 2050. Finland is aiming to achieve the same target by 2035. Individual companies have even more ambitious targets for their carbon neutrality. This requires new types of innovation and ways to reduce emissions, increase energy efficiency and produce carbon-neutral energy.

Caverion, Oulun Energia and Osuuskauppa Arina have had individual projects that aim to identify new ways to utilize and improve their current energy flows. The idea of utilizing condensation heat from stores already existed, but the actors were unable to create a concrete solution independently.

VALOR role and results

VALOR facilitated the development process by bringing the three parties together and starting a collaborative project. The aim of the project was to develop a new innovative concept that utilized the condensation heat created by stores’ refrigerator systems. VALOR created a business case and effectiveness analyses, facilitated the development process, and created the initial operating model for the collaborative business to enable a win-win situation for all parties.

As a result, we identified a potential 5% efficiency improvement in the national production of district heating, meaning a 10% decrease in the carbon dioxide emissions from district heating. For Caverion, Osuuskauppa Arina and Oulun Energia, we created a concept to be piloted for the validation of benefits and a roadmap for how to keep this strategic imperative moving forward.