Green VTT

Green VTT / 1

Etukansi eri tiedostossa

VTT TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF FINLANDVuorimiehentie 5, EspooP.O.Box 1000, FI-02044 VTT, FinlandTel. +358 20 722 111, Fax +358 20 722 7001www.vtt.fi

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is the largest multitechnological applied research organization in Northern Europe. VTT provides high-end

technology solutions and innovation services. From its wide knowledge base, VTT can combine different technologies, create new innovations and a

substantial range of world class technologies and applied research services thus improving its clients’ competitiveness and competence. Through its

international scientific and technology network, VTT can produce information, upgrade technology knowledge, create business intelligence and value

added to its stakeholders. VTT is a non-profit-making research organization.

Value from sustainability

Green VTT

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Contents

4 Fostering sustainable development - fast growth for green businesses

6 Green material technology

8 Green bio- and chemical processing

10 Emission control technology

12 Clean water technologies

14 Green ICT

16 Green electronics

18 Green energy

20 Green transport

22 Sustainable built environment and eco-efficient solutions

24 Green industrial systems

26 Green machinery

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Green VTT / 4

Fostering sustainable development- fast growth for green businesses

Awareness about protecting and

improving the quality of our envi-

ronment is rapidly increasing. This

leads to rapidly growing demands

for expertise and technologies to aid sustain-

able development. Sustainable businesses

are expected to provide solutions for the

world’s environmental and social problems.

The best companies are finding ways to turn

this responsibility into opportunity.

For the research community, the green devel-

opment is a great inspiring challenge. To find

the best solutions, a wide knowhow and inte-

gration of various disciplines are needed. As

a multi-technological organisation with com-

prehensive networks, VTT is in a good posi-

tion to meet these challenges. VTT already

has a long tradition in the research of green

technologies. The first major integrated

action was the Clean World theme pro-

gramme, implemented during the years

2002-2006. The theme aimed at developing

sustainable technologies for advancing the

use of renewable energy sources, more effi-

cient use of raw materials, and reduction of

greenhouse gases. Since then, an increasing

number of projects and co-operative pro-

grammes have contributed to the under-

standing of green processes and accumu-

lated innovation potential for sustainable

businesses.

This publication has been written to reveal

the complete green technology offerings of

VTT in order to promote co-operation with

our clients and research partners. It reveals

our determined and effective approach to

find new solutions. We are ready to take the

next steps in sustainable development and to

contribute our expertise for the success of

our clients.

Anne-Christine Ritschkoff

Executive Vice President,

Strategic Research

Jorma Lammasniemi

Professor, Strategic Research

Green VTT / 5

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VTT’s Green Material Technology provides sustainable

technological approaches that ensure effective material

flows throughout society. These approaches facilitate the

production of products, services and energy in resource

effective ways and with minimised environmental

impacts. VTT has a long tradition in developing recycling

technologies, and the use of secondary and waste mate-

rials. The overall goal is to keep the material resources

within the economic system for long periods, and there-

fore to minimise the quantities of valuable materials that

permanently leave the economic system.

Sustainable material technology is needed to overcome the

continuous growth of resource and material consumption

and overuse, to mitigate climate change, and to increase the

sustainable environment impact. Sustainable production pat-

terns, innovative technologies and high level of know-how all

improve resource efficiency. The product planning phase is

critical for material use throughout product life cycles, for

products´ overall sustainability.

VTT’s vision on green material technologyVTT´s vision and mission is to be a global forerunner in creat-

ing environmentally benign approaches based on materials

Green material technology

technology for a resource efficient society. This includes the

increasing of societys´ overall material and energy efficiency

by optimised use and reuse of resources, ecological material

solutions with dynamic management of heterogenic raw

material bases, and sustainable applications of material tech-

nology in environmental technologies. Wastes can be seen as

raw materials. However, prior the waste refinery, there are

needs for effective identification, detection and monitoring

tools and methods for assessing solid materials and con-

taminants in solid wastes and raw materials.

VTT’s scientific and technological focus on green material technology VTT promotes efficient energy and material use, exploitation

of new raw material/water sources and utilisation of waste

flows by creating new substitute materials and processes.

Sustainable production chains of new materials and their raw

materials as well as environment friendly, ethical and efficient

production of raw materials for biomaterials are in the focus

of VTT’s research activities. Overall life cycle thinking and

resource efficiency is a leading idea of VTT’s research

activities directed towards sustainable production and

product design and finally to sustainable community and

industry.

VTT’s key offeringUtilisation of wastes - waste refinery concepts

The research area of effective utilisation of wastes and pro-

duction of nearly passive products targets aspects including

performance, recyclable and cost-balanced intelligent and

interactive production of eco-efficient materials, processes

and concepts. These demands are met by designing with

almost 100% recyclable nodular products having all the infor-

mation needed included into the product. Interactivity is

exploited in all the stages of product life cycle and advanced

solutions are integrating production concepts and plants (e.g.

bio- and waste refineries and industrial ecosystems).

Closed cycles and zero waste concepts

The VTT closed cycles and zero waste concepts cover the

emission treatments and removal of impurities and compo-

nents not used in the process in the most optimal production

stage. Materials technology provides excellent tools for opti-

mising and reorganizing production processes and operation

chains by smart integration of processes and systems

needing new membrane materials, absorbents and/or ion

exchanging materials.

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Advanced recycling processes and concepts

Efficient return of the resources to the economic system

requires simultaneous development of recyclable or reusable

materials and products as well as systems for improved recy-

cling. This is enabled by VTT’s multi-technological compe-

tence base. The potential to improve recyclability/reusability

by using non-hazardous raw materials, modular and disman-

tling-friendly solutions, automatic identification systems ena-

bling interactive recycling systems, etc. is assessed already

in the product design stage. Increased recycling rates are

enabled by developing advanced recycling processes for

complex and new products and materials, new higher value

products from recycled and waste materials, integrated sys-

tems for energy and material recycling of waste and by-prod-

ucts and by optimising recycling systems.

Erja Turunen

Vice President, Strategic Research

Tuomas Mustonen

Vice President, Business Solutions

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VTT develops green bio- and chemical processing steps

for different industrial sectors, e.g. biotech, chemical,

food and pulp and paper industries as well as bio-refin-

eries. The research covers the whole value chain, from

development of biocatalysts or chemical catalysts to

implementation of the green unit operations to industrial

processes.

VTT’s vision on green processingVTT is a forerunner and multidisciplinary research provider in

white biotechnology- green chemistry area. VTT’s vision is to

develop sustainable and multidisciplinary solutions needed to

realize value chains based on renewable raw materials and

thereby provide alternatives for petroleum based products.

Target end products of these value chains include (bio)chem-

icals from renewables, liquid biofuels and biomaterials. Spe-

cial focus is on enzyme-aided processing of biomass, devel-

opment of green chemistry solutions for biomass valorisation

and development of efficient microbial factories for biotechni-

cal production of chemicals and biofuels. Bio-based unit

operations are also developed for the forest, food and chem-

ical industries.

VTT’s scientific and technological focus on green bio- and chemical processingVTT works for discovery, improvement and exploitation of

enzymes and microbial strains, algae and plant cell cultures

Green bio- and chemical processing

using up-to-date methodology. Metabolic engineering of

microbial production strains is carried out in order to be able

to produce novel bio-based chemicals from biomass compo-

nents. The key competences are in fundamental understand-

ing of the molecular biology and physiology of industrially

important organisms as well as discovery of enzymes being

able to break biomass to its building units and to further

modify these components to various chemicals or materials.

The unique research facilities cover the whole chain from

molecular level research, analysis of the reaction mechanisms

with advanced analytical methods, as well as development of

process applications at the laboratory and pilot scale.

In the field of polymer and chemical products, the research

focus is in bio-based materials, i.e. polymers derived from

renewables that are functionalised by green chemical or

chemo-mechanical techniques. VTT applies green organic and

polymer synthesis technologies for development of new poly-

mer and chemical products. Processing infrastructure is avail-

able for the production of chemicals and polymers. Fermenta-

tion and downstream facilities enable biotechnical production

of enzymes and chemicals up to a scale of two cubic meters.

VTT’s key offeringGreen process alternatives to manufacturing industry

VTT’s strength in green processing technologies is the know-

how of the whole research value-chain, from development of

biotools or green catalysts to e.g. pulp and paper technology

or chemical technology. VTT works in close collaboration with

different industrial sectors and has profound knowledge on

the technological needs and requirements of these sectors.

Therefore combination of the green process alternatives or

unit operations as part of the existing processes can be effi-

ciently carried out.

Biorefining of agro and forest biomass and process

by-products

VTT focuses strongly on biorefinery research. Technologies

for the production of new biomass derived biofuels, chemi-

cals and polymers are being developed. One strong area is

metabolic engineering of microbes for the production of bulk

and high-value chemicals. New green process concepts for

valorisation of agro and forest residues to value added chem-

icals either though the cell factory route or directly by frac-

tionation of the target polymers or components from the bio-

mass are being developed.

Johanna Buchert


Tiina Nakari-Setälä

Technology Manager

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10

VTT provides emission control technology and sustain-

able solutions to mitigate the emissions from processes,

vehicles and engines. VTT operates as an expert for

industry and environmental administrations in national

and international networks.

The growing demand from individuals, companies and politi-

cians is creating an urgent need to characterize the emis-

sions, including from those sources which have not been

monitored until now. Only then can the cost-effective actions

that are needed be focused on those sources which are the

most critical ones. With technology-based environmental

solutions, the effects of environmental disasters can be miti-

gated.

VTT’s vision on emission control technologyVTT‘s vision and mission is to provide research innovations

for characterization and control of emissions originating from

different sources, such as power plants, industrial processes

and traffic. We act as a key player in vehicle and greenhouse

gas emission mitigation by promoting alternative fuels and by

increasing the use of renewable energy. VTT actively directs

national and international legislation and standardisation in

the area of emission control.

Emission control technology

VTT’s scientific and technological focus on emission control technology The key elements in our research are the characterisation of

process and traffic emissions and generation of new nano-

and functional material-driven purification techniques. Our

portfolio on emission measurements includes a wide variety

of methods and specialised analysers for on-line determina-

tion as well as the classification of particulate emissions by

size. We develop novel monitoring tools and concepts for

clean processes and product verification.

VTT’s key offering Our research operations, both in the field and in the labora-

tory, help our clients to develop their own products and proc-

esses to be more eco-efficient.

Characterization of emissions from processes, vehicles and

engines

VTT provides special measurement methods for gaseous

components, which includes high-performance on-line mon-

itoring as well as characterization, sampling and specific

analysis of several non-regulated trace pollutant species and

fine particles. VTT offers integrated analytical solutions on

flow dynamics and modelling of chemical gas phases, sur-

face reactions and aerosols. We provide monitoring tech-

nologies for emissions at high-temperatures and corrosive

processes. We affect the security of nuclear power plants by

estimating the transport of fission product particles and

gases.

Engine combustion emission and energy use

VTT has versatile laboratory facilities for engine combustion

emission and energy use purposes. We provide reliable and

internationally comparable information about emissions from

complete vehicles simulating real-world duty cycles, both for

on-road and non-road applications. We offer easy and cost-

effective running tests with complete vehicles in well-control-

led testing environments designed for different emission

reduction systems.

Jukka Lehtomäki

Technology Manager

Juhani Laurikko

Senior Research Scientist

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12

VTT provides clean water technology solutions enabling

the sustainable use of water. VTT has a long experience

in optimisation of industrial process water cycles and in

sludge management. This expertise forms a strong base

for development of new or improved technologies and

systems for production of high-quality recycled fluxes.

Water-efficiency is the key component in sustainable

water management.

Growth of the world’s population, economical growth in the

developing countries and the way in which the developed

world uses the limited resources leads to increasing competi-

tion of natural resources. For example, it is predicted that the

shortage of water may become the key factor limiting eco-

nomic growth in many countries. The growing need for

reduction of water consumption and introduction of alterna-

tive water resources are well-known challenges.

VTT’s vision on clean water technologiesVTT’s vision is to promote sustainable and efficient use of

water by providing technologies for clean water production,

for water recycling and purification. VTT’s multi-technological

competence ensures that we are in the global forefront in

developing water technologies.

VTT’s scientific and technological focus on clean water technologies VTT promotes sustainable water use by developing techno-

logical solutions, concepts and systems for production of

clean and safe water, for efficient recycling and reuse of

industrial and household water and for water efficient proc-

esses. Our focus areas include improvement of the technical

prerequisites of water recycling, exploitation of new non-used

resources for production of clean water, and increasing inte-

gration of waste and water management into the complex

energy and material production chains of the society, instead

of separate treatment solutions. The integration of life-cycle

thinking into all the development work is an essential prereq-

uisite of sustainability. VTT’s scientific and technological focus

contains advanced on-line monitoring and process control

systems ensuring efficient recovery and confidence in the

quality of recycled water.

VTT’s key offeringWater technologies and systems

VTT’s strength in development of technologies and systems

for water purification, recycling and reuse and for utilisation of

water treatment residues is our capability to develop new

solutions by combining our diverse basic competencies.

These competencies include for example utilisation of various

separation and fractionation technologies and advanced bio-

logical, chemical and electrochemical treatment technologies

for production of clean water as well as for recycling and puri-

fication of process and household waters and for production

of energy and materials from sludges and concentrates. The

development of industrial water efficiency concepts (e.g. proc-

ess, forest, mine and food industry, energy production) is sup-

ported by the experience in development of new processes,

for example biorefinery concept, and process modelling.

Monitoring, data management and sustainability assessment

Various environmental assessment techniques, including LCA

(life cycle assessment), water and carbon footprints are used

for ensuring the sustainability of the technical solutions, con-

cepts and systems. VTT develops on-line monitoring tech-

nologies, sensors and indicators for quality control of water.

Ulla-Maija Mroueh

Senior Research Scientist

Tuomas Mustonen


Clean water technologies

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14

Green ICT is about the use of ICT for environmental sus-

tainability. It thus includes not only improving environ-

mental efficiency of ICT itself, but also the use of ICT to

make other industries and business domains more sus-

tainable. The high level goal of green ICT is to eventually

decouple the use of natural resources from economic

growth. Achieving this requires new, bold ideas and con-

cepts that generate major systemic, structural and

behavioural changes in society. Some general principles

of the new frugal society are: integrated activities - “1

joule, two jobs”, waste minimisation and utilisation -“One

man’s trash is another man’s treasure” and physical

resource substitution - “Consumption of products as bits

instead of atoms”.

The largest potential for ICT to improve environmental effi-

ciency can be found in applying ICT in other business

domains rather than in ICT itself, because the ICT sector only

accounts for a few percentages of the total energy consump-

tion. On the other hand, the environmental footprint of the ICT

sector is growing the most rapidly, so it cannot be neglected.

Rather, the ICT sector should lead the way in taking new

solutions into practice. The focus on green ICT is more than

just the climate change and low carbon economy, but topics

like efficient use of natural resources, reductions of hazardous

substances (ROHS), and conservation of biodiversity should

also be considered.

VTT’s vision on green ICT ICT will increasingly be present in our lives: 1) ICT will offer

available data and easy to use tools for the people to decrease

their ecological footprint and to make more environmentally

sustainable choices in their everyday consumption. 2) Smart

production and recycling technologies will result in optimised

products, processes and systems that consume as little

resources as possible in every stage of their whole life-cycle.

3) Smart metering and smart grid technologies will enable flex-

ible, accessible and economical energy generation (using

renewable energy sources), distribution and consumption both

in households and industry. 4) Intelligent transportation sys-

tems and remote collaboration technologies will reduce

unnecessary traffic and minimised the energy usage of trans-

portation in general. ICT devices and networks themselves will

naturally be highly optimised. Sustainable decisions will also be

supported by governmental regulation and other incentives.

VTT’s scientific and technological focus on green ICTVTT focuses on four topics that present our view of the most

relevant in terms of both the impact on environmental sustain-

ability and application opportunities for ICT. Environmentally

sustainable consumption deals with generation of tools and

incentives for consumers to change their behaviour and to

enable making environmentally sustainable decisions in their

daily life.

Energy efficient buildings involve development of new smart meter-

ing and smart grid enabled digital services for diverse stakeholders,

from energy companies to consumers.

Life-cycle efficient production demands more extensive and sys-

temic ways for utilising ICT in enabling new, more ecological, pro-

duction paradigms for making products and services.

Optimised and adaptive networks aim to produce new intelligent

network operations and management solutions for optimising

diverse networks in multiple levels.

VTT’s key offeringSensors and sensor networks

VTT develops novel sensor and sensor network hardware and soft-

ware for a variety of applications. We have a long experience on

sensor, sensor network and embedded device R&D, especially

regarding wireless sensing. Our measurement solutions provide

information for improving, e.g., energy efficiency and waste manage-

ment.

Network solutions

VTT provides advanced technology for the networks of the future.

Our focal topics cover converging networks, network management,

radio systems, and computing platforms. Our technologies and

competences are key enablers of, for example, smart electricity grid

management, intelligent home solutions and remote collaboration.

Green ICT

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Modelling, simulation and analysis

VTT is developing models, simulations, and analysis for better

understanding, control, productivity and sustainability of

complex systems. Our R&D is concentrating on industrial

automation and system simulation, data interpretation and

information management. Examples of the solutions that we

provide are product life-cycle assessment, energy consump-

tion monitoring services, and transportation optimisation.

Software technologies

VTT offers solutions for the complete lifecycle of software

intensive systems development and run-time optimisation.

Our R&D covers the software engineering methods, proc-

esses, tools and architectures, including product and service

proof-of-concepts for, e.g., mobile and cloud computing

solutions. We can contribute to, e.g., life-cycle efficient soft-

ware production, hardware substitution, and optimised soft-

ware intensive systems.

User interaction and user-centered design

VTT is taking advantage of the emerging user interaction and

user-centered design technologies. We do R&D on context

adaptive user interaction, virtual and augmented reality, infor-

mation visualisation and human-centred design of digital

services. Our technologies enable, e.g., sustainability serv-

ices for consumers, teleconferencing solutions and virtual

prototypes.

Tatu Koljonen


Seija Sihvonen


16

VTT’s Green Electronics Technology provides solutions

that are well addressed to the broad needs of an energy-

efficient society. Together with its other green technology

areas, VTT is in a position to address the needs of indus-

try and users in a holistic way. VTT has already devel-

oped several solutions for its customers which allow

them to expand their businesses in the strongly increas-

ing business arenas of green technology.

Solutions exploiting electronics are able to improve the energy

efficiency of goods and services throughout their life cycles.

The benefits include improved logistics and reduced waste in

production, better efficiency of industrial processes, lower cost

of ownership through widespread measurement solutions,

improved access to services using various wireless connectiv-

ity solutions, more energy-efficient lighting, more environmen-

tal-friendly transport of people and goods and more efficient

recycling based on information embedded in goods.

VTT’s vision on green electronicsVTT´s vision is to be a global forerunner in creating environ-

mentally friendly solutions based on green electronics. The

citizens increase their knowledge of environmental issues

through improved access to on-line information on the car-

bon footprint of various products and services. This allows

new business models based on green technology. Green

Green electronics

companies are able to increase their business. Society ben-

efits from better use of natural resources, reduction of waste

and more efficient recycling.

VTT’s scientific and technological focus on green electronics technology VTT’s focus is on high performance sensors, optical instru-

ments, and printed intelligence in electronics and micro tech-

nologies. These focus areas are well addressed to the broad

needs of an energy-efficient society.

VTT’s key offeringSensor solutions for energy efficient production

On-line measurement of emissions using various optical

measurements in energy plants makes it possible to maintain

optimal burning conditions depending on the contents of the

fuel material. Condition monitoring of critical machines using

various process-specific sensors enable both on-line moni-

toring as well as predictive measurements which help to

avoid down times and to optimise maintenance breaks. VTT

develops solar cell technology using roll-to-roll manufacturing

technology which is well suited for large-area solar panels.

Energy-efficient transport

VTT provides intelligent accumulator solutions for monitoring

electronics which is critical for electrical and hybrid vehicles.

Energy-efficient smart grids exploit sophisticated ICT solu-

tions to optimise the use of electricity, to avoid peaks in the

demand of electricity, and to make grids bidirectional thus

allowing distributed energy production.

Energy efficient lighting and housing

The new LED technology can be used to markedly increase

the energy efficiency of lighting. Efficiency depends on the

diodes, their driving circuits, packaging of the lighting mod-

ules, and the control of lighting. VTT has circuit technology

that improves the efficiency of the driving circuits, packaging

technology which improves the thermal management of light-

ing modules resulting in increased energy efficiency and life

time, and control solutions to use lighting only when needed.

VTT solutions can be used to prevent excessive air condition-

ing, for example by using distributed temperature and air

quality (such as CO2) measurements.

Wireless and Internet technologies to support energy-efficient

society

VTT offers technologies to build global sensor networks with

location services to improve the energy efficiency of road

transportation in logistics and usability of public traffic serv-

ices. VTT solutions for wireless communication make it pos-

sible to have high-quality video meetings and remote pres-

ence to reduce travelling and environmentally unfriendly flight

17

traffic in particular. Embedded sensors in mobile phones

together with their connectivity to the Internet make it possi-

ble to increase the real-time awareness of consumers of envi-

ronmental issues associated with various products and serv-

ices that people encounter in their daily lives. This makes it

possible to affect sustainable development at the global level

based on individual consumer decisions.

Aarne Oja

Programme Manager

Juha Palve


18

Global climate change mitigation will call for strong

measures in order to achieve deep reductions, up to

80% of greenhouse gases in industrial countries. Tech-

nology development and enhanced market implementa-

tion of new technologies will be one of the most cost

efficient global tools. VTT is one of the largest R&D

actors in Northern Europe in the area of green and sus-

tainable energy. The selected focus areas are advanced

bioenergy, wind and fuel cells in renewable energy,

nuclear energy and clean coal in sustainable energy pro-

duction. A strong focus is also in the efficient use of

energy in transport, the built environment and industry.

Technology development is linked to energy systems,

modelling, economic assessments, foresighting and

services in all stages of the innovation process from

technology and market commercialization. A new energy

revolution is needed, the transition to a green and sus-

tainable world is more urgent than ever.

Green energy solutions will call for leaping technology devel-

opments and market introduction of all renewable energy

sources. The International Energy Agency IEA has indicated

that in 2050 up to 50% of primary energy sources can be

produced by renewable energy. The targets are set in Europe

by 2020 to increase the share of renewable energy to 20% in

final energy consumption, to reduce greenhouse gas emis-

sions by 20% and increase the efficient use of energy by

20%. No single technology provides the final solution, we

Green energy

need all sources and applications of green energy. The decar-

bonisation of the power and transport sectors is a top priority.

A global green energy revolution will call for accelerated

efforts, measures and results from energy research and

development.

VTT’s vision on green energyVTT’s mission is to be a key global R&D actor in selected

areas in green energy. We are a strong partner in international

cooperation both within the European Union and within the

technology network of the International Energy Agency. VTT

focuses on next generation bioenergy solutions, arctic wind

power, fuel cells and smart electricity grids, clean transport

and low-energy buildings. Bioenergy solutions in global forest

and energy industry, boosted by new business opportunities

in versatile biorefineries are areas of VTT track record.

VTT’s scientific and technological focus on green energy technology VTT develops new solutions in bioenergy, wind, fuel cell and

solar photovoltaic applications. VTT focuses on development

of new, cost competitive solutions for power, heat and trans-

port supported by competence in energy systems, model-

ling, sustainability and market assessments. New wind power

solutions, often in ice conditions, are under strong develop-

ment and implementation phases. VTT provides solutions in

smart grid development and innovations to achieve large

scale renewable electricity generation.

New technologies developed for forest and agrobiomass

value chains are main focuses on VTT’s research agenda. A

unique research infrastructure with pilot plant facilities

supports our RTD (research and technical development)

activities. Combustion, gasification, pyrolysis, hydrogenation

and high pressure processes are typical competence areas.

Fuel cell research is strongly focused on applications with

new materials. Energy efficiency and the use of renewable

energy are key topics for sustainable transport. Activities

cover RTD as well as large-scale fleet demonstrations.

Biotechnology will open new integrated solutions also in the

energy RTD, such as next generation biofuels and algae

based bioenergy.

VTT’s key offeringVTT has a strong technology and IPR portfolio in green

energy solutions, including the following areas.

Bioenergy

VTT has a portfolio of advanced technologies in power, heat,

solid biofuels and transportation fuels production. VTT biore-

finery research offers attractive business solutions for forest,

agricultural and urban waste based biomass platforms. VTT

is one of the largest bioenergy R&D organizations in Europe

providing unique research and pilot plant facilities, modelling

and market assessments for the forest and energy industries.

Our technology and research portfolio offers future frontier

research by exploiting new energy crops and algae.

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Wind power

VTT provides solutions for fast growing wind park markets.

Special expertise is developed for reliable operations in ice

conditions, not only seen in the arctic areas. New results from

material and construction research will offer cost competitive

solutions.

Fuel cell

VTT develops solutions for clean power production based on

SOFC (solid oxide fuel cells) technology as well as new fuel

cell based power trains for speciality vehicles. Both technolo-

gies offer high efficiencies which results in savings in fuels as

well as reduced CO2 emissions, both for power production

and transport. VTT offers system development and concept

verification, as well as development of components and

materials. VTT’s offerings also include developing other fuel

cell applications like portable and small power sources.

Kai Sipilä


Matti Nieminen

Customer Manager

20

Green transport means increasing the efficiency of vehi-

cles, introducing renewable energy and also modifying

the whole transport system by shifting towards more

energy-efficient and less carbon-intensive modes of

transportation. The whole transport sector must be

looked upon in a systemic way, and the growth of trans-

port demand must be harnessed. Technical measures

must be accompanied by effective policies and support

schemes to ensure that environmentally friendly tech-

nologies and best practices are really put to work.

Sophisticated engines and exhaust after-treatment in combi-

nation with high quality fuels will eventually solve the problem

of local pollution. The challenge to reduce carbon dioxide

emissions from transport remains. The European Union’s

energy strategy requires greenhouse gas emissions to be

reduced by 20% by 2020, and the Directive on the promotion

of renewable energy calls for a 10% mandatory share for

renewable energy in transport in 2020. However, this is only

a prelude, as the carbon dioxide emission from all energy

sectors, including transport, should be cut by as much as

80% by 2050. Therefore, we should start preparations for

sustainable green transport immediately.

VTT’s vision on green transportVTT is a key actor in sustainable transport with its capability

for a systemic approach to the whole transport system. VTT

Green transport

is a sought-after partner in international cooperation both

within the European Union and within the technology network

of the International Energy Agency.

VTT’s scientific and technological focus on green transport Energy efficiency, renewable energy and rational use of

vehicles and the whole transport system are key elements

in green transport. VTT develops advanced biofuels for trans-

port, electric vehicles and ICT (information and communica-

tion technology) solutions for improved efficiency as well

as for improved safety. VTT is one of the forerunners in devel-

oping methodology to assess energy efficiency and deter-

mine real-world emission characteristics of heavy-duty

vehicles.

VTT has launched the TransEco research programme focus-

ing on energy efficiency and alternative energies in road

transport. The programme serves as a platform for integrated

development and evaluation of energy and emission control

solutions for the road transport sector.

VTT’s key offeringVTT provides tools for public decision making. Furthermore

VTT develops information technology for the transport sector,

biofuels optimised for arctic and cold conditions and technol-

ogy for reducing vehicles’ fuel consumption. Development of

electric vehicles and heavy-duty hybrid vehicles are examples

of our vehicle technology-related activities.

VTT’s competencies enhance the adaptation of the Finnish

road transport system to national and EU level climate and

energy targets in a cost-effective way. We provide concepts

for energy savings in transport, implementation of CO2 neu-

tral energy and increasing self-sufficiency in energy supply for

transport. VTT’s offering is targeted for the public sector, such

as ministries and agencies, as well as for industry.

VTT has a versatile engine and vehicle laboratory which ena-

bles work on passenger cars as well as heavy-duty vehicles

up to 60 metric tons. Passenger cars can be tested in tem-

peratures down to -30 °C. This feature is crucial in the devel-

opment of both fuels and new vehicles that meet the

demands of the Nordic climate.

Nils-Olof Nylund

Programme Manager

Tapani Mäkinen

Development Manager

21

22

VTT is one of the global pioneers in R&D of resource effi-

cient technologies and processes for the entire built

environment. The scope of its R&D extends from single

products and components to systems, buildings and

communities.

The production, maintenance and use of the built environ-

ment have large impacts on the natural environment, econ-

omy and well-being. The environmental burden has grown

parallel with economic growth and urbanization: these activi-

ties account for 17% of the world’s fresh water uptake, 25%

of the world’s wood harvest, 40% of the world’s materials and

energy flows, and 30-40% of all primary energy used. Over

80% of the harmful emissions are due to energy consumption

in the urban areas of the built environment.

On the other hand, there are also magnificent opportunities

to reduce the negative consequences of the pursuits of man-

kind, and to improve the relationship between the natural and

built environments.

VTT’s vision on sustainable built environmentVTT aspires to develop a built environment that facilitates

well-being of people, economy and communities, and that is

in harmony with the natural environment. The built environ-

ment will primarily be resource-efficient, and have minor

Sustainable built environment and eco-efficient solutions

impacts on nature. Most new communities shall be carbon

neutral with net-zero or positive energy balance. Existing

communities are being retrofitted to facilitate an improved

overall performance for users, and to enable a significant

reduction of environmental harms. Material flows for con-

struction shall be based on recycling and reuse. Energy will

be produced mainly from renewable and often local

resources. Closed circles of production and consumption are

main-stream technologies in communities.

VTT works for a sustainable built environment that is intelli-

gent, convenient and supportive for all. The role of informa-

tion and communication technologies is fundamental in mod-

ern societies and economies. Complexity of planning and

design processes requires advanced decision-making plat-

forms that handle scenarios, user-orientation and integrated

approaches. Management of material and energy flows will

be based on smart grids, smart buildings and smart cities.

VTT’s scientific and technological focus on a sustainable built environment VTT’s research and development activities aim at the tech-

nologies and processes that enable progress toward a sus-

tainable built environment. The field is comprised of macro-

economic indicators, planning of land-use and communities,

design and assessments in building projects, eco-efficient

products and systems, distributed energy technologies

including smart grids, as well as user-oriented and user-cen-

tric approaches and role of users in processes.

VTT’s activities aim at viable district level systems in order to

boost primary energy reduction and reduction of environmen-

tal impact within an urban context. The reduction of energy

consumption and energy-related emissions opens up poten-

tial for both existing and completely new technologies, offer-

ing a variety of solutions that are enhanced by introducing

holistic approaches.

VTT’s research and development is done mainly by experts

with an engineering background, and collaboration with

stakeholders and other research organisations is the norm.

The integrated, multi-disciplinary methods are needed in

order to respond to the urgent needs of practice, including

use of energy, materials and equipment. Other key topics are

local production of energy from renewable and otherwise

wasted resources, and usage of intelligent networks and

embedded technologies.

VTT’s key offeringThe core of VTT’s offering in the built environment is the com-

petence on life cycle performance of building materials, prod-

ucts, and systems, networks, and communities. This funda-

23

ment is strengthened by methods of knowledge management,

integrated design and delivery processes, and assessment of

health and safety. Modelling methods are extensively used for

natural phenomena but also for systems and even for behav-

iour of human beings.

VTT provides multidisciplinary R&D of technologies for sus-

tainable buildings: low energy, passive, zero energy, energy

neutral and energy positive buildings for new, refurbishment

and retrofit construction. In addition to the technical solu-

tions, we develop processes for efficient delivery of the solu-

tions for various user needs.

VTT provides multidisciplinary R&D on technologies and

processes for sustainable community structure: compacting,

unifying and improvement of logistics in communities, devel-

opment of transport and utility networks, including distributed

energy production, storage and delivery technologies.

VTT is also an expert in assessing the consequences of cli-

mate change, particularly with respect to impact on struc-

tures, buildings, districts and utility networks. We also

develop measures to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Matti Kokkala


Miimu Airaksinen

Research Professor

24

Green industrial systems provide methods, tools, and

services for engineering, operation, and management of

industrial manufacturing businesses. These approaches

enable effective design, early simulation of environmental

performances, versatile monitoring and control of

material and energy flows, accurate and reliable

calculations of relevant environmental metrics, analyses

and optimisations of design and operational choices,

and effective integration of various engineering tools that

are necessary to manage the environmental impacts of

products and processes.

Effective engineering of green industrial systems calls for

environmental neutral solutions in all sectors and on all levels.

At first, products, process technologies, manufacturing

solutions, material and energy, and environmentally-aware

operation of the industrial facilities must be inherently eco-

efficient. Secondly, industrial systems must be designed,

engineered, and operated by using appropriate, proven,

efficient, and versatile engineering and information systems.

This concerns design methodologies and tools for both

products and processes, for process control and automation,

for manufacturing control, for condition management, for

value network management, and for business processes

management. The manufacturing plants or factories and the

related businesses can not be operated without them.

Green industrial systems

VTT’s vision on green industrial systemsVTT is a world-class technology and expertise provider for

analysing, designing, operating, and managing environmental

issues for industry. VTT’s experience on industrial domains,

their operative systems, design systems, and businesses

combined with thorough knowledge of environmental effect,

legislations, standards, and conventions makes VTT an

excellent expert in green industrial systems. VTT is helping

industries to adopt ever more efficient planning and operation

tools, software and communication technologies throughout

all life cycle stages and for all stakeholders in the value

networks. Virtual engineering will be the primary means of

implementing eco-efficiency.

VTT’s scientific and technological focus on green industrial systems VTT emphasises its knowledge, capability, and expertise to

carry out life-cycle analyses, to assess the emissions and

impacts, to calculate the energy and material costs in

combination with various or overall aspects of industrial

activities. This is typically highly-intensive expertise work

offered as a service or consultancy. VTT also addresses the

extensive use of simulators to be used in the design and

operation of the industrial systems, both from the technical and

engineering point-of-view including the various aspects of eco-

efficiency.

Efficient integration of engineering tools, standards compatibil-

ity, and open source are heavily employed.

VTT’s key offeringVTT offers extensive expertise for evaluating and developing

industrial systems. One of the key offerings is life cycle

analyses (LCA) that serve for strategic decision making,

product and production development and logistic optimisation

and defining legal demands. VTT’s LCA services support the

customers with communication, marketing reporting, training,

ecolabeling and ecoprofiles. VTT offers strategic foresight

studies of environmental issues and benchmarking or critical

reviews of other practisioners.

Product life-cycle simulation

As an essential part for effective engineering of green

industrial systems, VTT offers simulators for several phases

of a product life-cycle. VTT has created an effective, open-

source SIMANTICS platform intended as an effective highway

for simulators and other engineering tools integration.

KCL-ECO -software

KCL-ECO is a multi-purpose software tool and model library

developed for carrying out life-cycle analysis calculations.

KCL-ECO is capable of handling large, enterprise scale

systems.

25

An essential part of the program is a substantial module

database offering flexible reuse of previous analyses.

Combining eco-efficiency with economy of production

VTT has the capability to pilot industry methods that take into

account the eco-efficiency and economy of production. VTT

has tools for determining the significance of raw materials,

energy, water, waste treatment and CO2 emission trading to

the economy of production. VTT’s approach to this item is

based on the combination of production process modelling,

life-cycle assessment, eco-balance analysis, energy and

material audits and ecological footprint.

Olli Ventä

Programme Manager

Teijo Salmi


26

Eco-efficiency in green machinery means lower energy

consumption, waste minimization, better durability and

functionality during the whole lifetime of the machine.

Domestic appliances, vehicles, working machines,

machines in manufacturing, process and energy indus-

tries, etc. are an essential part of modern society. A holis-

tic approach in modern machine design is necessary to

achieve sustainable solutions.

VTT’s vision on green machineryVTT’s vision is that environmently-aware engineering will be

common practice and novel solutions to promote eco-effi-

cient machinery are possible when new engineering plat-

forms enable experimentation with alternative designs and

on-line life-cycle analysis.

VTT’s scientific and technological focus on green machinery VTT´s research focus is on holistic design environments,

methods and tools to promote sustainable solutions in mod-

ern machine engineering. This includes application of virtual

prototyping and simulation to optimize the designs for the

lifetime of the machine. VTT also creates new designs for

machines to increase their eco-efficiency (functional materi-

als, low friction, automation, electrical solutions). Machines

that help to use renewable energy sources are especially

Green machinery

important, for example, windmills and biofuel harvesting

machines. Life cycle management and life time extension of

machines is also an important topic.

VTT’s key offeringThe perpetual challenge in industry and business is to provide

better products in shorter time-to-market and at lower cost.

At the same time, products are becoming more complex and

the user requirements – in productivity, quality, comfort and

eco-efficiency – are getting stricter.

Virtual prototyping of machines

VTT provides long experience in modelling and simulation of

complex multi-domain systems, including mechanics, electric

systems, hydraulics and control. VTT offers a full simulation

model of the product which enables a cost effective method

to reduce both time and expenses in product development

and over the product life cycle as a whole.

VTT has developed an open software platform for modelling

and simulation called Simantics that provides tools to multi-

domain modelling connectivity via ontologies. In the future,

mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid flow, hydraulics, automa-

tion, materials and structures of machines can be designed

in the same framework. Life-cycle analysis calculations can

be integrated into the engineering process.

All electric and hybrid machines

VTT develops new lightweight and energy-efficient electrical

machine concepts for clean, energy efficient, low emission,

reliable, and cost efficient machines. VTT offers condition

monitoring methods for new service business models and

better life-cycle control. Our tools include electrical machine

concepts with high power density and high specific torque,

electrical machines integrated in their surrounding structures,

intelligent solutions for machine control to enable low-energy

consumption, care-free operation, and low vibro-acoustic

emission, all electric machines and vehicles.

Condition based maintenance of machines

VTT has created tools for condition monitoring and prognosis

of future development of the condition of critical machinery

components. New sensor technologies together with embed-

ded measurement systems are developed to be used in effi-

cient and sustainable machinery.

Rauno Heinonen


Tuomo Niskanen


27

VTT TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF FINLANDVuorimiehentie 5PO Box 1000, FI-02044 VTT, FinlandTel. +358 20 722 111Fax +358 20 722 7001E-mail: [email protected]

More information on VTT activities and research as well as the webversion of this review on our website: www.vtt.fi.

This brochure as well as other printed information material can be ordered from:

VTT/CommunicationsLiisa LinnamaTel. +358 20 722 [email protected].

Graphic design: Sari Halme and Tuija Soininen, VTT

This review is printed on Galerie Art Silk printing paper, which has been granted the environmental emblem of the Nordic countries.

Edita Prima Ltd 2010

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VTT TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF FINLANDVuorimiehentie 5, EspooP.O.Box 1000, FI-02044 VTT, FinlandTel. +358 20 722 111, Fax +358 20 722 7001www.vtt.fi

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland is the largest multitechnological applied research organization in Northern Europe. VTT provides high-end

technology solutions and innovation services. From its wide knowledge base, VTT can combine different technologies, create new innovations and a

substantial range of world class technologies and applied research services thus improving its clients’ competitiveness and competence. Through its

international scientific and technology network, VTT can produce information, upgrade technology knowledge, create business intelligence and value

added to its stakeholders. VTT is a non-profit-making research organization.

Value from sustainability

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