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Solar energy is the fastest growing form of energy in the world. In Finland, the industry is now moving from the pioneer stage to the development phase. The markets have accelerated in Finland and export is growing. To mark this growth, the FinSolar project network of more than 50 organisations honoured Professor Peter Lund on 18 February 2016 in recognition of his exemplary life's work to promote the solar energy industry in Finland.

A professor of engineering physics at Aalto University, Peter Lund has been promoting solar energy since the 1970s by educating experts in the sector, running research projects and organising domestic and international pilot projects. He was involved in founding Finland's Solar Technology Association (Aurinkoteknillinen yhdistys) in 1979.

The number and investments of companies with solar energy business activities is growing in Finland. Solar energy capacity doubled in Finland in 2015, from 5 MW to approximately 10 MW. Companies in the industry believe that capacity will also double this year and next year. Finland already has nearly 100 larger solar power plants of more than 100 m2.

New power plants of record size will be completed in Helsinki and Hamina in early 2016. Solar power plants are being acquired by companies, municipalities and other public sector organisations, energy companies, farms, house residents and, to an increasing extent, housing companies.

'We sometimes forget about pioneers when the growth begins. In order to avoid this situation, we decided to honour Professor Lund for his long-term life's work on behalf of the solar energy industry,' states Professor Raimo Lovio, who is the responsible leader of the FinSolar project, at the Smart Solar Growth seminar held at Aalto University School of Business in Helsinki on 18 February 2016.

The award was presented to Professor Lund by Jari Varjotie, CEO of Savosolar, representing the FinSolar project, and Rami Niemi, Technology Manager at St1 Deep Heat and a student of Professor Lund. The award received by Professor Lund has the following inscription: Tahto innovaattorin vie läpi harmaan kallion! (When there's a will, the innovator finds a way!) The actual award came from the bedrock located more than one kilometre below Professor Lund's work station in Otaniemi, where St1 is currently drilling a test hole for district heating use.

Additional information
Professor Raimo Lovio
Aalto University School of Business
tel. +358 40 353 8242
raimo.lovio@aalto.fi