Oceans of innovation in Finnish sustainable solutions

In the first initiative, VTT has joined forces with Japanese technology giant Mitsubishi Electric Corporation to develop methods for capturing carbon dioxide directly from seawater. The project, set to launch in 2024, aims to accelerate the implementation of direct ocean capture (DOC) methods and advance a wide range of other technology initiatives which tackle global environmental issues.

According to VTT, removing CO2 from oceans will help to eliminate ocean acidification, which threatens marine ecosystems and impacts economic activities such as fishing. VTT and Mitsubishi Electric want to develop scalable solutions to tackle marine ecosystem challenges. The project is part of a long-term research collaboration formalised through a memorandum of understanding between the two organisations.

“We selected VTT because we have recognised their high R&D capabilities and commercialisation mindset, which have led to a proven track record of creating new innovations,” said Seiji Oguro, executive officer and vice president of sustainability innovation at Mitsubishi Electric. “By combining the capabilities of both organisations, we are jointly embarking on the challenge to realise a nature-positive world.”

Antti Arasto, vice president at VTT, expressed pride in the partnership and highlighted the partner’s achievements in the research and development of sustainable technologies. The research centre also noted that Finland's proximity to the vulnerable Baltic Sea ecosystem makes it a potential location for piloting related innovations and that the collaboration could open up opportunities for other Finnish companies and organisations.

Wave of change 

Meanwhile, Finnish renewable energy company AW-Energy is deploying four WaveRoller wave energy converters in Portugal as part of the ONDEP (Ondas de Peniche) wave farm pilot. The project, which begins in October 2024, has secured 19 million euros in funding from the EU’s Horizon Europe programme and will span five and a half years. AW-Energy is the project’s lead technology provider.

ONDEP covers the full spectrum of wave farm operations, from design and manufacturing to testing and deployment. The two-megawatt pilot farm will be installed in Peniche, a surfing hub in Portugal, and help to address technical challenges for future large-scale wave farms. After the project's official conclusion, the farm will continue generating electricity for the local community for an additional eight years.

“Wave energy is the largest untapped renewable energy resource in the world,” emphasised Rémi Gruet, CEO of Ocean Energy Europe. “The ONDEP project is poised to be among the first pilot wave farms globally, advancing this new industry to an industrial level. It will pave the way towards a zero-carbon future.”

ONDEP has ambitious plans to lay the groundwork for 11 wave energy farms across eight countries on four continents, with a total cumulative capacity of 83 megawatts, by 2030. In the future, the sector could create up to 500 000 jobs across Europe. 

For AW-Energy, ONDEP is a significant milestone as it marks the company's transition from small-scale testing to commercial deployment. In total, the project, coordinated by Queen's University Belfast, has 14 partners across Europe.

Innovation rooted in tradition

These two initiatives are just two examples of Finland's long tradition in maritime expertise and how the industry is evolving with a strong focus on sustainable technologies. Other notable projects include Aker Arctic's development of the first methanol-ready icebreaker in the world and Wärtsilä's four-year co-operation project Zero Emission Marine, a nearly 200-company initiative which aims to develop sustainable maritime solutions. Another industry giant, Meyer Turku, is helming a project that brings together industry leaders to build a climate-neutral cruise ship. The results of these initiatives will be seen in the coming years.