Page 24 - European Energy Innovation magazine - autumn 2022 edition

Autumn 2022 European Energy Innovation
24 COMMUNICATION

Future energy solutions

tested in Turku

By Matti Välimäki

The Turku Student Village is being turned into an energy positive residential area that will
produce more energy than it consumes. As a part of the EU-Response project, the Student
Village will also serve as a unique testing laboratory for new innovations.

unded by the EU’s Horizon On the roof of Tyyssija, there will be effi cient ventilation and water-saving
2020 programme, the two-sided solar panels that can also nozzles for taps.
Response project is tap into the sunbeams refl ected from
Fdeveloping smart and the building’s roof. In the past, similar “We are turning the Student Village
carbon-neutral solutions for panels have only been used in larger into an energy positive area, with 120
energy production, building solar power plants. to 130% of its energy needs produced
technology and mobility in in a climate-friendly way.”
sustainable cities. New kinds of energy storage solutions
are also being tested at Tyyssija: Wide cooperation network
Representing Turku in the project is There has been a wide cooperation
the largest single student housing “We are storing electricity in a system network participating in the
complex in Finland with some 4,000 made of used electric car batteries. development of the innovations in
residents, the Turku Student Village. The site will also have phase change Tyyssija and other Student Village
storage that uses different kinds of sites.
Project Coordinator Sini Lamoureux salts for thermal energy storage. A
says that new innovations are solution like this takes up less space Turku-based partners are the City of
currently being introduced in the area, than a conventional hot-water tank.” Turku, the Student Village Foundation
especially in the newly completed of Turku, Turku Energia, Turku City
Tyyssija building. Upgrades are happening in other Data and Turku University of Applied
parts of the Student Village as well, Sciences. The project has also received
“For example, the building has a new such as extensive energy effi ciency scientifi c support from VTT Ltd.
kind of energy system where the renovations for older buildings in the
heat pump is supplied by return heat complex. For example, apartments “We also have several corporate
from district cooling, i.e. surplus heat will be equipped with nano coating partners around Finland who we have
recovered from other properties.” 4-glazing panels windows, energy- provided with a testing platform.”

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