Thursday 16 April 2020

Helsinki grants extension to the €1m energy challenge competition

Helsinki has announced plans to prolong the registration phase of its €1 million (£870k) energy challenge competition due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The challenge is open globally to anyone who can propose a sustainable heating solution for the city and suggest ways to replace coal with carbon-neutral and low-biomass solutions as far as possible.

City authorities have set a 2030 carbon-neutrality goal and are seeking ways to invest in sustainable energy solutions despite the disruption caused by coronavirus.

To get the best possible result out of the Helsinki Energy Challenge, it has been decided that the registration phase is extended - it now ends on 30th September 2020.

The finalist teams to be invited to the second phase of the competition are going to be announced at the beginning of November and the winner of the competition will be revealed in March 2021.

Jan Vapaavuori, Mayor of Helsinki, said: “Our competition got off to a great start at the end of February, and the reception has been overwhelmingly positive both in Finland and abroad. It is clear that we have started something unique.

"However, the changed world situation caused by the coronavirus comes at a difficult stage in respect to our competition. Innovators and potential competitors now need time to adapt to the new situation and prolonging the registration phase of the competition is necessary at this point.

"Despite the coronavirus, we need to stick to the climate goals. We still have to get rid of coal and we want to replace it with long-term sustainable solutions. Both the Helsinki Energy Challenge and our other climate efforts continue at full strength.”