Operating in Finland since 2018, the energy company Neoen develops, owns and operates solar power, wind power and battery storage projects in 18 countries. At the beginning of 2024, Neoen began developing its project activities in Finland through a partnership agreement with Sitowise.

Together we can create something bigger than the traditional supplier-customer relationship.

Miika Pilli, Neoen

– In the red-hot wind and solar power market, there was no desire to find free consultants for project permitting, zoning and EIA studies, which caused unnecessary backlogs in projects, says Miika Pilli, Project Development Director at Neoen.

Neoen decided to take matters into his own hands and choose a consulting partner for the projects, who stood out with its positive attitude. - Sitowise also saw opportunities in the general market situation and wanted to look ahead. Together we can create something bigger than the traditional supplier-customer relationship.

Partnership supports wind and solar projects

The partnership agreement ensures that the experts appointed for Neoen's use are extensive and flexible throughout the project's life cycle, from project development to construction preparation, construction management and maintenance. Sitowise's responsibility and digital services are also part of everything we do.

- The changes that have taken place in the operating environment enable new ways of thinking in service production. We have strived to meet our customers' needs with more flexible service models and ways of working together, of which the Neoen partnership is a good example, says Tuomas Lukkari, Director of Sitowise's Environment and Urban Development division.

Significant nature deeds through biodiversity services

The partnership agreement streamlines the environmental and nature studies of wind and solar power projects, in addition to which new ideas and development proposals are also addressed. - It makes it possible to minimise adverse impacts in the project areas and, on the other hand, to take significant nature deeds more widely, says Heli Vainio, Environmental Specialist at Sitowise.

Thanks to the partnership agreement, projects have been discussed on their impact on biodiversity. At the same time, opportunities to influence biodiversity through separate sustainability and biodiversity projects have been highlighted. – Sitowise has provided us with expertise and ideas that would not have traditionally been put on the table, Pilli says.

Responsibility work is supported by Sitowise's digital tools, such as assessments of the impacts of land use change, artificial intelligence models used to predict carbon sinks and roadmaps. In addition, a calculation model suitable for customer needs and information systems has been tailored for the carbon balance calculation of solar power projects.

– We calculate the positive and negative climate impacts of projects based on information obtained from Neoen's systems without additional data collection, which supports transparent communication already in the early stages of the project, says Emma Liljeström, Group Manager at Sitowise. The climate impacts of the projects are presented in a visual and easy-to-use format.

Close cooperation helps in the high-quality promotion of energy projects and in anticipating the needs of expert and information management in different work phases.

Sanna Mäyrä, Sitowise

Social responsibility is reflected in local cooperation

In addition to ecological sustainability, Neoen bears responsibility for the social impacts of its projects. In addition to local authorities, cooperation with local residents is diverse, both during the permit phase of projects and in various cooperation projects and events.

– We want to engage residents in projects and produce good things for them as well, not just for municipal finances or landowners, Pilli emphasises.

According to Sitowise's Account Director Sanna Mäyrä, the partnership agreements enable the energy sector to have a high-quality and impartial partnership at different stages of projects. - Close cooperation helps in the high-quality promotion of energy projects and in anticipating the needs of expert and information management in different work phases.

Photo: Timo Huhtinen