Jari Kiviaho, PhD, Senior Principal Scientist at VTT, has been appointed as a Research Professor starting 1 March 2023. Jari Kiviaho was involved in the launch of VTT’s research into fuel cells, electrolysers and hydrogen in the early 2000s and has been a pioneering researcher in domestic and EU-funded hydrogen research. Over the past 20 years, VTT has become one of Europe’s leading organisations producing hydrogen solutions. Finland is also striving for a leading position in the European hydrogen economy throughout its value chain. This is made possible by a strong competence base in research organisations and companies.
On 9 February 2023, the Finnish Government adopted a Resolution on hydrogen, describing the objectives set for hydrogen and the measures promoting these objectives in Finland. Finland has the capacity to produce at least 10% of the EU’s zero-emission hydrogen in 2030. The task of VTT and the new research professorship is to support Finnish industry and other research sectors to achieve this objective in Finland.
In his work, Jari Kiviaho has seen the rise of hydrogen as one of the major solutions for climate change and the green economy.
“We aim to replace fossil energy sources, such as oil, coal and natural gas, with renewable energy sources throughout society. Wind and solar energy and the related green hydrogen are good ways of reducing the carbon footprint and emissions for society, industry and transport as a whole”, Kiviaho describes.
All investments should be in line with the Government Resolution on hydrogen.
“We need to create rapid growth in hydrogen-related manufacturing industry in Finland by supporting research, product development and investments across the entire value chain. We also need to quickly start developing storage and transport solutions for hydrogen in Finland. Safety aspects and regulation related to hydrogen should always be a factor in all projects”, Kiviaho says.
Antti Arasto, Vice President of Industrial Energy and Hydrogen at VTT, thinks that the new professorship focusing on hydrogen is important for Finland: “Our hydrogen professorship represents world-class expertise that’s needed for developing even more competitive solutions for the Finnish export industry and Europe.”
As Senior Principal Scientist at VTT, Jari Kiviaho has been responsible for development related to fuel cells, electrolysers and green hydrogen solutions for the production of combined electricity and heat and for the needs of transport and industry. Kiviaho also has several positions of trust in international hydrogen programmes. He acts as VTT’s contact person at Hydrogen Europe Research, as a coordinator at EERA FCH JP, in the IEA AFC Executive Committee and as the Chair of Annex 32, in the Board of Directors of the Nordic Hydrogen Partnership and as a member of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership Stakeholders Group.
