Climate change is one of the key research areas of VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland), as reducing greenhouse gas emissions is critical to the development of future energy systems.

The evidence for global warming is becoming more and more indisputable. Both VTT and its partners are seeking to develop technologies that will lower greenhouse gas emissions.

The Climtech technology and climate change programme, co-ordinated by VTT, investigates the development needs and potential of technologies that can be used to control climate change. The programme includes both the control and limitation of emissions within Finland as well as the use of Finnish technology to limit emissions elsewhere.

The time scale for the climate change control technologies studied extends to 2030. By analysing the overall picture, it is possible to anticipate emission control needs, compare the control possibilities and their economic consequences, and identify the most important development areas and future technologies.

The technologies developed are intended for a wider market than just Finland. VTT also believes that the demand for new environmental technologies will increase significantly. The early investments made in technology development often have a crucial effect on their direction and competitiveness. The overall costs of the three-year programme are about EUR 4.0 million. The main sponsor is the National Technology Agency, Tekes.

Research on emissions control is also being conducted in other VTT research areas. For example, VTT has co-ordinated a study commissioned by the European Space Agency (ESA) focused on creating methods for determining global forest-bound carbon reserves and carbon emissions by utilising optical and radar satellite images.

VTT Processes, a research unit with over 600 employees, is taking part in the research and development of new emissions control technologies. VTT is an impartial research organisation with 3,000 employees which produces a wide range of technology and applied research services for Finnish and international customers, companies and the public sector. VTT does not seek financial gain. VTT's turnover for 2001 was EUR 220 million. VTT's extensive national and international network of partners helps to ensure that the new technologies will be adopted by companies and organisations. VTT's expertise is in areas such as biotechnology, information technology, electronics and energy.

>> Finnish technology monitors environment from space (25.7.2002)

>> Heavy vehicle emissions under control (25.7.2002)

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