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The substation maintenance services agreement covers inspections of eighteen substations across Lapland, maintenance of physical high-voltage equipment such as transformers, circuit breakers and disconnectors, as well as other servicing and maintenance activities within the substation areas.

“The reliability of substations is critical to the dependability of the entire electricity network in Lapland. Careful maintenance helps prevent faults and ensures a secure power supply even in demanding weather conditions,” says Antti Vainionpää, Head of Maintenance at Enersense.

Northernmost substation located in Utsjoki

The northernmost substation covered by the agreement is located in Utsjoki, Finland’s northernmost municipality.

According to Vainionpää, Enersense’s local office in Rovaniemi supports the delivery of the maintenance services in the region.

“It is a significant advantage that our employees have a local base in Lapland. With this new agreement, we were also able to recruit two additional employees to the region. We are very grateful to Fingrid for their trust in Enersense’s expertise,” says Vainionpää.

Enersense already provides substation maintenance services for the transmission grid in four regions in Finland: Southeast Finland, Southwest Finland, South Ostrobothnia and Central Ostrobothnia. The newly signed substation maintenance services agreement for the Lapland region is valid until the end of 2027 and is valued at approximately EUR 1.2 million.

The agreement will be recorded in the order backlog of Enersense’s Power business unit for the third quarter of 2026.

According to the survey, the main bottleneck for lower-emission steel is no longer the availability of technology, but demand. More than 70% of suppliers identified long-term agreements as the most effective way to accelerate the growth of lower-emission steel production. Nearly half (48%) also highlighted the importance of pilot projects involving lower-emission steel.

“The message from suppliers is clear: wider adoption of lower-emission steel requires, above all, predictable demand and collaboration throughout the value chain. We are pleased to see that our customers are also becoming increasingly interested in lower-emission alternatives,” says Liisi Tamminen, Enersense’s Vice President, Communications, Investor Relations and Sustainability.

Enersense conducted the survey among steel and steel product suppliers serving the energy, telecommunications, and industrial sectors during the summer of 2026. The purpose of the survey was to assess the availability of lower-emission steel and emissions data, as well as suppliers’ readiness to meet sustainability and reporting requirements.

Demand is needed for low-emission steel solutions

Europe is currently investing record amounts in power transmission and digital infrastructure. Material choices, particularly steel, play a significant role in the overall emissions of these projects.

“Global emissions will not be reduced solely through electrification and digitalisation. Equally important is the choice of materials used to build these solutions,” Tamminen says.

Large-scale emissions reductions in the steel industry require investments.

“By 2030, 70% of the world’s blast furnaces will reach the end of their technical service life. Investment decisions made today will determine the emissions level of steel production for the next 15 to 20 years,” Tamminen says.

Emissions data is becoming a new quality criterion in supply chains

The importance of emissions data is growing as customer requirements and European Union regulation continue to reshape the market. According to Enersense’s survey, approximately 80% of material suppliers are able to provide at least some form of emissions data for their steel products.

Nearly half of the survey respondents are subject to the requirements of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) or report that the regulation affects their operations. There is still room for improvement in the availability of emissions data: only 30% of suppliers are currently able to provide comprehensively verified emissions data in accordance with CBAM requirements for their products. Approximately one-third (30%) estimate that their capabilities will improve during 2026 and 2027.

“There is a growing need for reliable emissions data, both to meet EU reporting requirements and to ensure the credibility of climate action. We are pleased to see that a large share of our suppliers are actively improving the quality of their data and increasing transparency throughout the value chain,” Tamminen says.

Enersense works together with WWF Finland to increase the use of lower-emission steel in construction projects.

The solar park in Eurajoki is one of the largest solar parks in Finland. With a capacity of 101 megawatts and annual production of approximately 100 gigawatt-hours, it generates enough electricity to meet the annual consumption of around 20,000 households. The solar park was commissioned and inaugurated in September 2026.

The agreement strengthens Enersense’s position in condition-based maintenance services for renewable energy. With its digital solutions and on-time maintenance, Enersense improves power plant’s efficiency and lengthens solar panels’ lifetime.

Solar power plant monitored from Enersense’s control centre

The solar power plant is monitored around the clock from Enersense’s control centre. Through monitoring, deviations and alarms are detected quickly, after which Enersense coordinates the required work on site. Continuous monitoring supports the safe operation of the plant, high availability, and efficient energy production. In addition, the plant’s long-term operation and maintenance create ongoing work opportunities for local service providers and professionals in the region.

“We are grateful to our customer Alight for their trust. The agreement reflects Enersense’s growing role as a lifecycle partner for renewable energy infrastructure. As the solar power capacity in the electricity system continues to grow, the importance of reliable maintenance in ensuring production availability and grid stability also becomes increasingly significant,” says Antti Vainionpää, Head of Maintenance & Services at Enersense.

The conductors used in the transmission lines will be made from lower-emission aluminium, resulting in an estimated emissions reduction of approximately 16,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide, or 64 per cent compared with using conventional aluminium in conductors.

The Paide–Sindi 330/110 kV project is part of Elering’s broader transmission network renewal programme, which aims to strengthen Estonia’s electricity transmission network and enable the growth of renewable energy generation, particularly in Pärnu County. The upgraded transmission connection is also important for electricity transmission between Finland and the Baltic countries. The Paide–Sindi 330/110 kV connection is located between central and south-western Estonia.

In the project, Enersense will use more than 1,300 tonnes of aluminium conductors with a total length of nearly 1,000 kilometres. The project includes dismantling an ageing transmission line that has reached the end of its service life and constructing a new one.

Lower-emission aluminium is a new but growing solution in the market

According to the supplier, lower-emission aluminium currently accounts for approximately two per cent of its aluminium conductor production, but production has grown steadily since 2023.

“The use of lower-emission materials is one of the most concrete ways to reduce emissions from energy infrastructure construction. At Enersense we have previously piloted both lower-emission steel and lower-emission concrete. Aluminium is still relatively new for both us and the market, and we are very excited about this project,” says Edi Valgemäe, Head of Estonia’s High Voltage Business at Enersense.

The transmission line project using lower-emission aluminium supports Enersense’s climate targets.

Enersense aims to reduce its total emissions by 40 per cent by 2035 compared with 2023 levels. The targets include a 63 per cent reduction in emissions from the company’s own operations and a 38 per cent reduction in value chain emissions.

“More than 90 per cent of Enersense’s emissions originate from purchased materials and services. Increasing the use of lower-emission materials is therefore a key part of achieving our climate targets,” says Veli-Matti Sääski, Enersense’s Head of Direct Materials Procurement.

Construction of the Paide–Sindi 330/110 kV transmission line will begin in January 2027, and the project is expected to be completed in August 2029.

Paide–Sindi project in a nutshell

• Customer: Elering AS
• Location: Estonia
• Total conductor length: approximately 964 km
• Total amount of conductors: approximately 1,317 tonnes
• Emissions reduction: approximately 16,800 tCO₂
• Carbon footprint of the aluminium: 64% lower than with conventional aluminium conductors

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.