Today, 22nd of October, The 3rd Meeting of China-Finland Energy Cooperation Working Group took place via Zoom. The meeting is part of a continuum that started in 2017, when Finland and China signed a Joint Action plan on Promoting the Future-oriented New-type Cooperative Partnership between China and Finland.
In the meeting the news was released: EPSE has been selected from preliminary process as one of the five final candidates for the new demonstration projects. Two of the previously in 2017 selected projects are still continuing and 2 are out due to dis-reporting and not technologically/industrially making the grade required. Now totally 7 projects/companies are among selected ones. EPSE is selected from preliminary phase because of higher technology, ready piloting project, practical applying in the industry and good future in the industry development.
Welcome and Introductory Remarks made by the meeting moderator, International Cooperation Department of NEA, highlighted the importance of China – Finland cooperation. In recent years, clean energy and renewable energy have become increasingly important in China and gained more shares in the market (new energy transition). Finland has advanced technology in innovative energy and incubation fields. China is building up a cooperative platform with EU on innovation and cooperation in energy, including companies, schools, R&D. The platform has already included 120 companies/organizations, including more than 10 Finnish companies/organizations. China Energy Bureau in 2017 has visited Finland and VTT and was impressed by incubation mode. China expects to import Finnish advanced technology and push to markets.
Energy Department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment brought forward that it’s beneficial to both sides to have practical energy cooperation between Finland and China. The cooperation comes from support from both presidential levels. Cooperation was first signed in June 2017 and Finland welcomes further cooperation. Finland is excellent in smart digital energy field and has also invested a lot in batteries industry, from mining to manufacturing production. Saving energy, cost efficiency and low emission are important for everyone in today’s world. This year, China has approved new working mechanism of China-Finland energy cooperation demonstration projects.
Report of Demonstration Project Material Collection and Expert Evaluation Results was delivered by Electric Power Planning and Engineering Institute (EPPEI), which is the implementing and evaluation body in China. Selection process includes experts’ evaluation from various aspects. Application, selection criteria (technology, economic and social impacts, local government support are important) are included in the new working mechanism. Preliminary results are made by experts, and further submit to both governments. Once selected to the demonstration, companies need to make reports. Demonstration is to make new technology incubated for markets. Exit mechanism is also used now when and if the technology is not suitable for markets by the demonstration phase or proved not be good for industry.
Representatives of Chinese/Finnish Enterprises (Projects which passed expert evaluation only):
- Micro-energy grids in Nansha
- Geothermal in Zhoukou
- Distributed Energy Supply in the Jiuyuan Industrial Park, Tianjin
- Desulfurization Wastewater Sediment from Power Plant
- Hydrogen Integrated Low Carbon in Guangzhou
- Production of Biogas by Dry Fermentation of Straw in Jiangsu
- Taicang Power Plant ICE Coupling with Coal-fired Units Power Generation Project (not the exact project name).
More about the energy cooperation in Finnish Government website.
Featured image by Denys Nevozhai / Unsplash.
This article was written by Anni Honkonen.