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The high voltage laboratory at Otakaari 5 has been in the Finnish energy company Fortum’s use as of 1 April 2017. The high voltage laboratory, which was inaugurated in 1969, has played a remarkable role in the development of electric power engineering in Finland.

‘The laboratory was built to meet the 420 kV demands of the Finnish main grid, and its performance characteristics will suffice long in the foreseeable future’, states Electrical Engineering Professor Matti Lehtonen.

Lehtonen warmly welcomed Fortum to the Otaniemi Campus at the profit centre's development event on 5 April. Nearly a hundred employees from experts to electricians attended the event to familiarise themselves with the high voltage laboratory facilities.

‘We move to the university-owned facilities in Otaniemi from the Myyrmäki electricity laboratory. Fortum will use the high voltage laboratory and other facilities for testing activities and for our expert services’ condition monitoring. We will also move measuring and testing instruments from Myyrmäki to Otaniemi’, explains Product Manager Olli Lindgren.

Closer co-operation

In Finland, the electric power engineering development has been achieved through the co-operation of energy companies, electric engineering producers, universities and research institutes already for decades. Both Aalto University and Fortum hope to build even closer co-operation.

‘Electric energy systems are facing what may be the most remarkable turning point in their history. The current situation is similar to the time when the high voltage laboratory was built; we need new information more than ever and there is a high demand for pioneering know-how’, Lehtonen reminds.

Aalto University High Voltage Engineering teaching will continue normally in the high voltage laboratory.

‘Our operation in Otaniemi is business-oriented, but we will definitely utilise the opportunities enabled by our new location among students. I hope that students take interest in our operation, and that we find ways to include them in the heavy industry, as well. The co-operation with the University will help us educate competent engineers for the needs of the industry also in the future’, says Lindgren.

Fortum’s Otanimemi facilities will be fully completed during the autumn of 2017.

Fortum is a leading clean-energy company that provides its customers with electricity, heating and cooling as well as smart solutions to improve resource efficiency. We want to engage our customers and society to join the change for a cleaner world. We employ some 8,000 professionals in the Nordic and Baltic countries, Russia, Poland and India. 62% of our electricity generation is CO2 free. Our revenue was 3,6 billion euros in 2016. Fortum's stock is quoted in Nasdaq Helsinki (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation). www.fortum.com/en