Sustainable Kera is being built through cooperation

13.4.2022 12.07

One of Espoo’s biggest development projects is to transform the old industrial and logistics area in Kera into a sustainable residential and working area based on a carbon-neutral circular economy. The area will have homes for at least 14,000 people. This sustainability change will be implemented together with local landowners, builders and other developer partners.

In 2019, we launched the Smart and Clean Kera project through which we started to develop Kera, in line with Espoo’s strategy, into a residential and working area based on a carbon-neutral circular economy. The aim was to create a foundation for a new kind of cooperation platform that will later develop into an international example of sustainability. The project created an operating model that allows various partners to participate in the development of sustainable urban solutions. Extensive cooperation will make it possible for us to offer future residents and others in Kera clean and smart services, for example, in relation to energy, mobility and housing.

In addition, our cooperation resulted in a development commitment that will steer the development of the Kera area in the long term. Landowners and builders in the central area are committed to taking account of the principles of sustainable development as part of their projects. This is complemented by a carbon neutrality roadmap for the area, compiling measures that support the implementation of the commitment. The concrete results of our development work include a local carbon-neutral energy solution, the opening of Keran hallit for temporary use (e.g. sports and urban culture), a pilot network of 19 smart poles, an examination of the regional coordination of demolition materials and soil masses, and planning and testing of new mobility services. Our aim is also to share our experiences and lessons learned from the development of the area so that they can be utilised in other areas in Espoo and Finland. Read more about Kera projects and reports.

We will increase our local cooperation through the Smart and Clean – Collaborative Kera project that was launched in March 2022. The aim of the project is to strengthen the creation of a district that is based on a carbon-neutral circular economy. The measures include launching a development forum for companies, surveying the possibility of temporarily using empty premises in Kera, and creating an experimentation and meeting place at Keran hallit. At the same time, we will promote Espoo’s goals regarding carbon neutrality and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Kera area will continue to change and develop for over a decade. In Kera, we can test and develop solutions and operating models that can also be used in other areas. The City of Espoo is committed to playing an active role in Kera and targeting development activities based on sustainable urban solutions in the area to support cooperation, carbon neutrality and circular economy solutions.

The Smart and Clean Kera project was carried out as part of the cross-administrative Sustainable Espoo development programme. In addition to the city, the project was implemented by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, Helsinki Metropolitan Smart & Clean Foundation and eight partner companies: A-Insinöörit Oy, Espoon Asunnot, Fortum Oyj, LähiTapiola, Neste Oyj, Nokia Oyj, Ramirent Oy and SOK. The follow-up project Smart and Clean – Collaborative Kera (2022–2023) will be carried out with ERDF funding (European Regional Development Fund) granted by the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council under the structural funds programme Sustainable Growth and Jobs 2014–2020.

  • Sustainability
  • Urban development
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