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Steel is an essential construction material, but its production accounts for more than one tenth of global carbon dioxide emissions. Lower-emission production methods already exist, and we must transition to them as quickly as possible. For me, it is important that the company I lead is part of this change.

A single material choice can determine a project’s carbon footprint

At Enersense, our goal is to reduce our emissions in line with the 1.5-degree target of the Paris Agreement, meaning at least a 40% reduction from 2023 levels by 2035. I recognise that this target is ambitious, but we have the means to achieve it.

The most impactful way to reach this goal is to increase the use of lower-emission materials, as the products and services we purchase account for more than 90% of our carbon footprint. At the same time, we can increase our own carbon handprint – that is, our positive climate impact.

Three transmission grid substations will soon be completed in Southwest Finland, where recycled steel has been used. Its carbon dioxide emissions are around 40% lower than those of conventional steel. The project would not have been possible without the strong commitment of the client – Fingrid.

In addition, we collaborate with WWF Finland to support the increased use of lower-emission steel in construction projects. Environmental organisation has been an important partner for us when we have needed independent expertise on the environmental impacts of steel. In May 2026, we jointly produced a guide on our website to support the procurement of lower-emission steel. I hope it will help our customers in choosing lower-emission options.

We are also promoting the use of lower-emission steel in other ways: we are installing pipelines and steel structures for the water treatment plant at the world’s first large-scale green steel mill, which is being built in Boden, northern Sweden. Water treatment is a key part of the green steel plant’s operations.

The EU is also encouraging the use of low-carbon materials. In a regulation proposal issued by the Commission this year, it is suggested that minimum requirements be set for the share of lower-carbon steel in certain public procurements starting from 2029. The transition to low-emission materials may therefore happen sooner than we expect.

Companies’ procurement decisions guide investments in the steel industry

Steel is currently produced mainly using two methods: from iron ore and from recycled steel.

The emissions from recycled steel production are significantly lower, because most of the emissions from conventional steel arise from the coal-based reduction of iron ore. However, recycled steel alone is not sufficient to meet global demand for steel, even though steel is one of the most efficiently recycled materials in the world. A sustainable long-term solution is to produce virgin steel using hydrogen and renewable energy.

In the short term, the question is about making use of existing alternatives. Long-term success will depend on strengthening demand now. By 2030, 71% of the world’s blast furnaces will reach the end of their technical service life. If low-emission steel is not in demand among builders, investments may be directed towards high-emission technologies. This would lock emissions at a higher level for decades.

At present, companies are making decisions that shape the entire market – perhaps without even realising it. Companies’ procurement choices influence what the entire industry will look like in the future. Those who build supply chains and expertise now will be one step ahead.

The transmission line being constructed between Alajärvi in South Ostrobothnia and Petäjävesi in Central Finland utilises lower-emission concrete, whose carbon dioxide emissions are approximately 15 per cent lower than those of conventional concrete.

Lower-emission concrete elements are used in the foundations of transmission line towers, which are buried several metres underground. A single foundation unit can weigh up to three tonnes.

“Within a single project, tens of tonnes of CO₂ emissions can be saved through concrete choices alone. Enersense aims to bring options to every project that reduce emissions and support customers’ sustainability targets,” says Santeri Hirvonen, Director of High Voltage Lines at Enersense.

Material choices directly influence construction emissions

A significant share of construction industry emissions comes from steel and concrete. Therefore, material choices have a direct impact on the climate footprint of projects.

The precast elements have been supplied to Enersense by Lujabetoni, a Finnish concrete industry company.

“The use of lower-emission materials is still an emerging area, but we have noticed that interest in them is growing rapidly in infrastructure construction. The first large-scale projects are important because they build experience and accelerate wider adoption and demand. It is great to see Enersense taking a leading role,” says Tuomo Eilola, Business Unit Director at Lujabetoni.

The Alajärvi–Petäjävesi transmission line project is the first large-scale transmission line project to be built entirely using lower-emission concrete elements. Enersense piloted lower-emission concrete in transmission line construction reportedly as the first company in Finland last year, when it built approximately one third of a 117-kilometre transmission line using lower-emission precast concrete elements in Northern Ostrobothnia.

“I hope that lower-emission materials will become the new normal in construction projects in the future. This development requires cooperation across the entire value chain – the client, the contractor and the material supplier,” Hirvonen adds.

The end customer of the project is Fingrid, Finland’s transmission system operator.

A carbon handprint refers to the positive climate impact of an organisation’s operations, product, or service. In practice, a carbon handprint is created, for example, when a company’s solutions help a customer reduce emissions from their own operations.

Strengthening employees’ climate expertise is part of Enersense’s target to reduce the Group’s total emissions by 40 per cent between 2023 and 2035. At the same time, the company aims to better identify opportunities to support its customers in achieving emission reductions.

Material choices have a significant climate impact

As part of its emissions reduction target, Enersense collaborates with WWF Finland to accelerate demand for lower-emission steel. As part of this collaboration, Enersense has produced a guide for the procurement of lower-emission steel.

“We want to carry out impactful, measurable climate work. A carbon handprint is created through the choices we make in production methods and materials. We want our employees to actively offer our customers solutions that reduce emissions,” says Liisi Tamminen, VP, Communications, Investor Relations and Sustainability at Enersense.

In addition to material choices, Enersense aims to reduce both its own and its customers’ emissions by electrifying its vehicle fleet and digitalising its operations. For example, timely maintenance can extend the lifespan of materials and equipment, such as batteries, by several years.

The Enersense carbon handprint training programme includes an e-learning course, a webinar, and a workshop in which employees identify, develop, and prioritise concrete ways to increase the carbon handprint of both Enersense and its customers.

OpenCO2net Oy, a specialist in climate-friendly business, serves as Enersense’s partner in the training programme, with approximately 40 key employees participating.

Steel is a key material in the construction of electricity grids and telecommunications infrastructure. At the same time, it is one of the largest sources of industrial emissions globally.

Published by Enersense, the toolkit for procuring lower-emission steel provides information on what should be considered in procurement. The guide helps steel buyers compare steel production methods, ask suppliers for the right emissions data, and identify when lower-emission claims are based on verified standards. The guide is intended especially for companies responsible for procurement, sustainability and material choices in construction.

“Material emissions are still discussed too little, even though their impact on the climate is significant. Companies have a key role to play in developing the market for lower-emission steel: as demand grows, producers will have stronger grounds to invest in lower-emission solutions,” says Amanda Rejström, Global Lead, WWF Steel Decarbonisation Workstream.

Enersense has already piloted lower-emission steel in a substation construction in Southwest Finland. The emissions from the production of the steel used in the pilot were around 40% lower than those of the conventional steel used as a reference.

The means to reduce steel emissions already exist

Emissions from steel production can be reduced, for example, by increasing the use of recycled steel as a raw material and by replacing coal-based blast furnaces with technology in which iron ore is reduced using green hydrogen.

The technology needed to produce lower-emission steel already exists, but its wider adoption requires growing market demand.

The steel industry is currently in a major investment phase, and the decisions made now will affect the emissions levels of production for decades to come. Companies’ procurement decisions, commitments and public positions can accelerate investments in fossil-free production solutions.

“Companies’ procurement decisions steer the market. Our goal is to make it easier for our customers to make more sustainable choices when information and solutions are available. The guide to procuring lower-emission steel is a concrete step in this direction and also supports our own emissions reduction targets,” says Liisi Tamminen, VP, Communications, Investor relations and Sustainability.

Read the guide: https://enersense.com/toolkit-for-procuring-lower-emission-steel/

Further information

Liisi Tamminen
VP, Communications, Investor Relations and Sustainability
Tel. +358 44 222 5552
Email: liisi.tamminen@enersense.com

Amanda Rejström
Global Lead, WWF Steel Decarbonisation Workstream
Tel. +358 50 300 5058
Email: amanda.rejstrom@wwf.fi, +358 50 300 5058

Enersense is responsible for the maintenance of Tampere’s new central treatment plant, where wastewater from six municipalities in the Pirkanmaa region – Kangasala, Lempäälä, Pirkkala, Tampere, Vesilahti and Ylöjärvi – is treated. Although Enersense has extensive experience in demanding industrial environments, Sulkavuori represents a new kind of operating environment for its maintenance personnel.

The modern facility differs clearly from many older factory settings. Sulkavuori is new, clean and highly automated. Automation, however, does not remove the need for expertise. Enersense aims to bring an industrial maintenance culture to the site, with a strong focus on anticipation and prevention.

“Working as a maintenance technician at a wastewater treatment plant requires a broad skill set. During the same working day, you may need mechanical maintenance expertise, welding skills, an understanding of electrical systems and automation, and gas safety knowledge. The maintenance system is also essential: every job is recorded in the system so that it can later be checked what was done, when a piece of equipment was serviced, and what caused a fault. When information does not depend on one person’s memory, operations can be developed in a more proactive way,” says maintenance engineer Niko Lahdenpää.

A work is planned one week at a time.

“For example, this week we have been cleaning inlet pumps. Next week, we will install new valves in the compressed air system and add support structures to the pipework in the sludge building. Today, the day continues with the monthly testing of the fire alarm control panels. The work includes planned maintenance, modification work and unexpected fault repairs.”

Maintenance technicians wear tall rubber boots, carry gas detectors and need full vaccinations

A technician’s working day at a wastewater treatment plant is not for the faint-hearted. Lahdenpää points out that a modern wastewater treatment plant is a clean and comfortable place to work. Even so, the conditions are physically demanding, and gases and odours can at times be strong. When pumps are opened and equipment is serviced, workers come into direct contact with wastewater, which is why hygiene and protective measures require exceptional attention.

In addition to workwear, their equipment includes rubber boots, masks, visors and long rubber gloves with cut and puncture protection. Vaccinations must also be up to date. Wastewater can contain almost anything – including used drug needles, which not only pose a risk to employees but can also disrupt the operation of the plant.

Safety is the foundation of everything. Hot work, confined space work and tasks carried out in potentially explosive areas always require permits. Employees always carry gas detectors with them. Lahdenpää stresses that although this is a technically demanding environment, the workplace is safe from the employee’s perspective when every stage is carried out carefully and in line with agreed procedures.

The importance of the work is especially visible in the inlet pumping stations, which are critical to the plant’s operation. If wastewater continues to flow in but the pumps stop working, the situation can quickly become serious for the surrounding waterways.

“With our work, we help ensure that waterways stay clean, and that makes the job meaningful,” says Lahdenpää.

At the moment, the plant has been handed over by the contractors. The process is still being fine-tuned in cooperation with the treatment plant’s own personnel.

“In newly commissioned plants, there are always unexpected variables. Not all equipment works exactly as planned. Unplanned repairs are needed, and settings are refined. We respond to unexpected situations immediately. We are in a customer service profession.”

I have worked in the telecommunications sector for 20 years. Even so, it is still surprisingly common for a single site to involve several different operators, even though the whole could be delivered through one provider. When many parties are involved, the work easily becomes reactive: only what is specifically requested gets done. That drives up costs, makes resource management more difficult and ultimately weakens reliability of delivery.

In critical infrastructure, control of the whole builds trust. When work is planned and predictable, we can focus on quality and safety.

A proactive way of working saves money, resources and emissions

There is no shortage of work in telecommunications networks. Data centres need connections. Operators are investing in fibre construction and renewing ageing mast infrastructure. Fibre networks, fast wireless connections and modern mast infrastructure are also essential for the smooth functioning of businesses and society.

As a partner to operators, we at Enersense also have a responsibility to keep developing the way we work. When we work in a more systematic way, we improve efficiency and help our customers reach their targets, including emissions reductions.

Based on the Marjaniemi mast pilot, we saw that construction was completed faster, unnecessary travel between stages was reduced, and the site placed less strain on the residential area and the surrounding environment. From our side, the pilot required only a more proactive approach with the customer, and even from a single trial we learned how to make the work smoother and higher in quality in the future.

A more systematic way of working improves employee wellbeing

In our Connectivity Business Unit, we have spent the past two years ambitiously developing our field work processes. When the whole chain works in a planned and transparent way, work progresses in a controlled and cost-efficient manner.

One practical change in our operations has been the expansion of digitalisation across our processes. Our new digital field service management model increases transparency throughout the chain. When the status of a construction project is visible to both Enersense employees and the customer, there are fewer surprises. Better predictability reduces urgency and creates a safer everyday working environment. In one service process, we succeeded in improving the speed of work order invoicing by as much as 70 per cent on average.

Systematic planning is not only about efficiency or cost savings. The change also affects the everyday work of our field installers. Our people now have a much clearer picture of what the next day will bring. Deviations are spotted early. Work is no longer about constantly putting out fires, but about continuous improvement. I believe that makes us an even more attractive employer.

By nature, I am systematic and tend to optimise anything that can be approached in a standardised way, so I am genuinely enthusiastic about improving the way we work. The more standardised the process, the more room we have to think differently and develop new solutions for customers, such as the one in Marjaniemi. That is how predictability becomes a competitive advantage for us.

The tower is used to manufacture high-voltage subsea cables used, for example, to connect offshore wind power to the grid in Sweden. Enersense installed the tower’s cooling pipelines, which are a key part of the subsea cable manufacturing process.

Installing the pipelines in such a tall tower was a demanding project and was carried out in sections. The pipelines were assembled at ground level in pieces, like large Lego blocks. The sections were then lifted inside the tower to heights of up to 160 metres.

The project’s pressure test reached nearly 200 metres

“Assembling pipelines at this height was an exceptional project. When working inside the tower, it is impossible to see the whole structure at once, so the work progresses piece by piece. In the final stage, the pipeline joints were X-rayed to ensure the welds met the required quality standards. Despite the challenging nature of the project, we received very positive feedback on the quality of our work,” says Ville Poutiainen, Project Executions Director.

Enersense also carried out a pressure test on the pipeline system. In this project, testing was particularly important because of the significant pressure difference between the top of the tower and ground level. The hydrostatic pressure test was conducted in accordance with the EU Pressure Equipment Directive at a height of nearly 200 metres and, according to the inspectors’ assessment, ranks among the highest pressure tests ever carried out in Northern Europe. The pressure test was completed successfully.

“The height is roughly equivalent to almost two towers of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. The views over Karlskrona were spectacular. From the tower, you could watch ships in the harbour and the surrounding historic town as the work progressed. The atmosphere on site was also extremely positive, and cooperation with all partners went very smoothly,” says Supervisor Keijo Suihko.

Project customer for Enersense is Maillefer. The subsea cable manufacturing tower is scheduled to begin operations later this year.

Under the contract, Enersense will carry out network repairs and construction work, fault resolution, and scheduled maintenance. The scope also includes preparing technical solutions and designs, maintaining substations and power lines, and ensuring network reliability in line with service orders.

According to Veiko Natus, Manager of the Northern Region at Enersense Estonia, the agreement continues a long-standing partnership in the area.

“We are grateful for Elektrilevi’s trust in Enersense and look forward to continuing our close cooperation. For decades, we have helped ensure reliable electricity distribution in Western Harju County. Together with our skilled experts, we work every day to safeguard this essential service across the region,” says Natus.

The whole framework agreement for the maintenance of Elektrilevi’s network is worth EUR 9 million, and it’s shared between two companies: Enersense and E-Service.

The value of the agreement for Enersense is approximately EUR 4.6 million, and it runs until 2030. The agreement will be recorded in the order book of Enersense’s Power Business Unit for the first quarter of 2026.

More information

Veiko Natus, Manager of the Northern Region in Estonia
+372 6635704
veiko.natus@enersense.com

The project is strategically important for Enersense, as it will be the first full-scope BESS project in Enersense’s history. Enersense draws on its strong expertise in operating and maintaining battery energy storage systems in Finland. 

“While we have previously participated in several projects related to BESS, this time we are taking full responsibility for the entire delivery – from site preparation to the final grid connection of the BESS. As the share of renewable energy continues to grow, battery energy storage systems play an increasingly important role in maintaining grid stability and ensuring a reliable energy supply,” says Arnis Odiņš, Managing Director of Enersense in Latvia. 

Full-scope construction and installation from preparation to commissioning 

As part of the project, Enersense will deliver comprehensive civil and electrical works, including site preparation, earthworks and the construction of foundations for all major installations. The company will also manage the acceptance, installation and assembly of the main equipment. 

The scope also includes the construction of the BESS control building and related engineering systems, as well as the installation of cable networks, grounding and lightning protection systems. 

A key element of the project is the construction of a new 110 kV cable line connecting the BESS park to the AST Grobiņa substation. In addition, Enersense will install the high-voltage 110/33 kV power transformer and associated primary equipment within the BESS park area. Upon completion, the site will be finalised with landscaping works, such as the construction of access roads and yards, fencing installation and the development of a drainage system. Work will commence immediately, with completion scheduled for 2026. 

“We appreciate the trust placed in us by the client. Enersense aims to be a trusted lifecycle partner for battery energy storage companies. This agreement is a strong demonstration of that ambition in practice,” says Odiņš. 

The total contract value amounts to approximately EUR 7 million, and it will be recorded in the order book of Enersense’s Power Business Unit for the first quarter of 2026.