Espoo works towards sustainable growth with 100 best partners

The Solution Path to Sustainable Growth Ecosystems (RAKKE) project, which ended in March, identified 12 challenges related to Espoo’s economic recovery and the Sustainable Development Goals in the fields of urban development, energy, transport and the circular economy. New partners were brought together and existing ecosystems were strengthened around these challenges. In cooperation with Gaia Consulting Oy, descriptions and goals were created for the ecosystems, and solution paths were developed to achieve the goals. This article presents these outputs through examples.

We need strong partnerships and collaboration to tackle complex climate challenges in urban development. The challenges identified in relation to the Sustainable Neighbourhoods ecosystem include construction based on a carbon-neutral circular economy as well as parking operations, optimisation and services. The actors involved in the Kera construction and transport development group formed an ecosystem where practical challenges are solved through cooperation. The general aim of the ecosystem is to scale proven and piloted practices and solutions to other areas and communicate them extensively both nationally and internationally. The open ecosystem gives room for new innovations and business growth and enables residents to adopt a sustainable lifestyle.

The role of energy in society is so significant that the ongoing energy transition, i.e. the transition from fossil fuels to carbon-neutral energy sources, affects all of us. According to the description of Espoo’s Renewable Energy ecosystem, collaboration at all levels is essential to achieve the goal of an intelligently controlled, low-emission and participatory energy system. Since 2021, Espoo has had an energy cooperation group comprising about 20 energy sector companies, of which Fortum and Caruna are also strategic partners of the City of Espoo. Several guidelines and measures have been implemented to achieve the main goals. For example, oil heating will be phased out in city-owned buildings by 2025 and solar panels installed by Espoo residents produce more than 18 MW, which is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of about 2,000 detached houses.

In Espoo, per-capita emissions from transport have decreased by more than 40% since 1990. However, transport is still the most significant source of climate emissions. In 2021, transport accounted for 35% of local emissions, and the relative share will increase to over 50% when the use of coal ends in district heat production. All available means must be used to achieve carbon neutrality in transport by 2030.

In the Zero-Emission Fuels ecosystem, charging infrastructure for electric vehicles has been developed together with partners, the possibilities of carsharing have been highlighted, and low-emission solutions related to the city’s logistics have been promoted, for example by using heavy vehicles that run on biogas. With regard to biogas, an extensive network of operators was brought together, different target groups were activated through communication, and a study was carried out on the feasibility of a small-scale biogas plant with the aim of finding new inputs and operators to produce biogas for transport in Espoo.

The priorities of the Sustainable Espoo development programme include circular economy solutions throughout the life cycle of construction and promoting the reuse and recycling of materials as well as a circular bioeconomy. These priorities are in line with Finland’s Circular Economy Programme, which aims to reduce the consumption of non-renewable natural resources and double resource productivity and the circular material use rate by 2035.

The materials included in the Circular Material Use ecosystem are plastic and urban biomaterials as well as concrete and glass among construction materials. The materials were selected based on their climate impacts, recycling and business potential, impact on employment, and estimated impact on municipal finances. The measures of the ecosystem have been compiled into an iterative solution path where the main aim is to achieve a waste-free Espoo. The solutions are linked to extensive collaboration, business growth, pilot projects, studies and opportunities based on funding applications.

Espoo aims to develop sustainable competitiveness significantly together with companies and other partners. New sustainable solutions for urban development, transport, energy and the circular economy in urban areas create an increasing share of jobs and economic growth in Uusimaa. Strengthening the competitiveness of research and development activities accelerates the creation of new urban innovations. In particular, the interfaces between different ecosystems offer possibilities for new innovations, experiments and business activities. This includes considering the storage space and logistics required for effective material recycling in the development of city districts and the use of local renewable energy in the electrification of mobility. 

The collaboration launched through the RAKKE project with the partner network in different ecosystems will continue in ongoing development projects and in the form of seeking new funding, planning a common operating environment and effectiveness, and scaling business activities. Read more about the project and the results here. (external link, opens in a new window)

Espoo’s Solution Path to Sustainable Growth Ecosystems (RAKKE) project received ‘Support for Sustainable Growth and Vitality in Uusimaa’ (UKKE) funding.

Enquiries: Reetta Jänis, reetta.janis@espoo.fi