Helsinki Offers $1.1M for Way to Provide Non-Fossil, Non-Biomass Urban Heating

Helsinki, Finland has launched a $1.1 million global competition to identify the future of urban heating, one that uses neither fossil fuels nor biomass-fired technology.

The city hopes to find a solution that can be put in place by 2029, helping to decarbonize Helsinki  and possibly serving as a model for other cities worldwide. To that end, Helsinki says it will share the knowhow gathered from the challenge. 

In announcing the competition, the city said its heating system allows for a range of solutions, from large to small scale, but the ideal combination of solutions is yet to be found. 

The winning proposal could just as well include technological and business model innovations, as it could be a solution requiring system-level transformation, the city said. Proposed solutions will be evaluated based on climate impact, impact on natural resources, cost, implementation schedule, implementation feasibility, reliability and security of supply, and capacity.

“Solving the urban heating challenge is crucial to reach global climate goals. Cities have a key role to play in the transition to a low carbon economy, and Helsinki is now taking an initiative to lead the way. We invite innovators from all around the world to use our city as a testbed to develop not just fossil free, but truly sustainable, solutions. Together, we will create the future of heating to fight global warming,” says Mayor Jan Vapaavuori.

 Helsinki began accepting submissions February 27 and will do so until May 31, 2020. By early July, finalists will be invited to a co-creation phase by early July. The phase includes a three-day boot camp, where finalists will receive help developing their proposals. An international jury of experts will name winners, who will be presented in November and awarded $1.1 million. 

Called the Helsinki Energy Challenge, the competition is open to consortiums, start-ups, larger and more established companies, research institutions, universities, research groups and individual experts.