Green Electrification – GreenE2

Innovation ecosystem project orchestrated by CLIC Innovation

GreenE2 is an open innovation ecosystem for all companies and organizations interested in developing knowhow and business opportunities related to hydrogen, P2X and CCU, sector integration and system-level efficiency. At the same time, GreenE2 tackles the ambitious target of Finland to become carbon neutral already by 2035. Green electrification is an enabler concept that reforms value chains and provides new business potential to companies and industries.

Background and objectives

The key idea of Green Electrification is that abundant availability of renewable electricity will enable decarbonization of not only the energy sector but also other industry sectors. Electricity can be used to produce hydrogen from water which can be utilized as such or to synthesize fuels and new products. These synthetic fuels can also be used for energy storage, which brings the much-needed flexibility to the energy system. Extensive cross-sectoral cooperation is needed to facilitate this significant transformation.

Green electification will require development and adoption of new technologies, new regulatory frameworks and new business models. At the same time, this change creates significant new business opportunities for Finland, which the project tries to capture.

The aim of GreenE2 is to create a cross-sectoral network for global business in Finland. New business is expected in three areas: green hydrogen, technologies and ‘e-products’ (chemicals, fuels). The project is the first step in cross-sectoral cooperation aimed at building a sustainable new market and significant climate action. GreenE2 also focuses on communicating green transition topics, such as Power-2-X, in an understandable way: see our free-to-use communication narratives here.

The four focus areas: hydrogen, P2X and CCU, sector integration and system level efficiency

Hydrogen – as the key energy carrier – is also at the very center of the interest of all stakeholders. Green hydrogen i.e. hydrogen from renewable sources, including production technologies, infrastructure, safety, industrial use etc., offers great business potential and therefore it has been chosen as one of the focus area of the ecosystem.  Not only is hydrogen the key to carbon neutrality and green transition, but developing hydrogen economy offers Finland a competitive advantage and business and export opportunities.

Once the green hydrogen has been produced, the second focus area – P2X solutions and CCU – widen the range of different utilization options for hydrogen and ensure the better storability of the energy in more stable chemical form. Synthesized e-fuels can be used with newer technologies like fuel cells but also with more conventional technologies, like internal combustion engines, to provide mobility, heat, and electricity. The remarkable utilization possibilities of e-fuels prolong the service life of existing systems and technologies which were previously relying on heavy consumption of fossil fuels and enable the immediate transition to green energy-based systems.

For extracting sufficient amounts of carbon needed by P2X industry, methods for Carbon Capture and Utilization need to be improved and taken into practice. By segregating carbon containing molecules from flue gases, industrial sources or directly from atmosphere, a sustainable and steady source of carbon feedstock can be established and the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide reduced.

The third and fourth focus areas – sector integration and system level efficiency – are the enablers of the flexible combination of different energy systems from individual energy producers to consumers. They aim to the seamless merging of power systems, energy storages and intelligent control systems, to improve the systemic efficiency and to ensure the sufficiency of energy for all consumers in all situations.

GreenE2 themes

GreenE2 focus areas

Activities

GreenEbrings together actors from different sectors. Information on public projects and relevant actors in Europe will be collected and strategic partnerships will be formed. A common vision and roadmap for business and competence development will be strengthened. In addition, cross-sectoral cooperation will be facilitated to carry out market shaping activities, to develop better operational environment and to prepare collaborative RDI projects.

In addition, GreenE2 communications group produced brand-free, free-to-use materials to help make a central green transition term, Power-2-X, more understandable. There are narratives, videos, infographs and other materials for each of four target groups that we identified as important (B2B, consumers, investors and public decision makers). “Power-to-X Gives Power To You” is the carrying theme in these narratives. Read more here.

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