Smart City Lighthouse project mySMARTLife is part of the EU Horizon 2020 program, which tests new solutions to mitigate climate change in cities. Project experiments achieve energy savings of 10 to 20 percent and accelerate access to the best solutions. Solutions tested in Helsinki can be utilized in other cities in Finland and around the world.

An autonomous bus in action (Photo: Jussi Salonen / Metropolia)

Autonomous electric bus service

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences is testing the use of an intelligent minibus with sensors to navigate in its surroundings and pay attention to other road users. New technologies are studied to reduce the emissions and costs of public transport and to get passenger feedback of autonomous means of transport.

“A similar experiment in the SOHJOA project last year in Helsinki, Espoo and Tampere was a success. The purpose of automobile buses is to provide a safe ride for all”, says Project Manager Harri Santamala at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.

Intelligent heat control for savings

Intelligent heat control and guidance to reduce consumption in Merihaka and Kalasatama residential areas is tailored to meet individual user needs. Demand response of heat and electricity enables optimisation of energy grid capacity use to serve both the service provider and the customer. The Viikki Environment Institute office building will be made more energy efficient by installing remote control for the heating system with room-specific sensoring and control.

More solar and smart use of renewable energy

Ways to increase the production of renewable energy and to reduce annual consumption as well as utilise smart energy storages in the most efficient way are explored further in the project. Development work is done to improve the entire grid as well as through local pilots. As an example, Helsinki Zoo and recreational area of Korkeasaari aims to be carbon neutral by 2025. Switching to renewable energy, reducing consumption and promoting low-emission mobility with smart charging will be show-cased.

Suvilahti solar power plant (Photo: Helen Ltd.)

mySMARTLife is implemented by the City of Helsinki, Helen LTD, Forum Virium Helsinki LTD, Metropolia Polytechnic LTD, VTT Technical Research Centre LTD and SMEs Fourdeg LTD and Salusfin LTD. The European Commission has granted funding of € 18 million for a joint project in 2017-2022. The budget for the Helsinki measures is € 5.6 million. The project also includes the cities of Hamburg and Nantes.

The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 731297.

The Climate Partners network fosters cooperation to reduce emissions that affect the climate as well as to make companies more competitive.The companies that join Climate Partners sign the Climate Commitment together with the Mayor of Helsinki. Each company specifies its own environmental goals.

The objective of Climate Partners is to:

1. Create new operating methods and new business opportunities
2. Increase new and innovative ways of cooperation to reduce emissions in the city area
3. Operate visibly and to actively provide information about the results
4. Share knowledge on best possible practices

What does the Climate Commitment mean?

Climate Partners’ members themselves define their organization’s goals in relation to controlling climate change in the near future. The goals should be aimed at improving the current situation and should outweigh the current legislation. The company can focus on any topic it wants to – e.g. energy savings, energy efficiency, increasing the efficiency of logistics, environmentally friendly procurements, waste treatment or enhancing the commitment of personnel.

What are the benefits of Climate Partners network?

The pioneering companies are introduced in the website and communication. The network creates new operating methods which enable a more responsible approach to entrepreneurship and cooperation with other operators. At the annual seminar, the companies get a chance to introduce their own good practices to other members of the network. It is also possible to organize events associated with the network in the companies’ own premises.

How is the network operated? 

Mayor of Helsinki Jussi Pajunen signs the climate commitments on behalf of the City of Helsinki. Deputy Mayor Pekka Sauri serves as Chairperson of the network, and the network is coordinated by the City of Helsinki Environment Centre together with the City of Helsinki Economic Development. Every year, the City of Helsinki Environment Centre gathers information about the implementation of commitments from network members. It is also possible for institutions like universities, colleges and other organizations to participate in the operation of the network as ’supporting’ members. In addition to the annual seminar, the network organizes workshops on logistics and energy conservation, for example. Climate Partners can also contact the coordinator directly and offer suggestions on network operation.