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CEO Flexens Oy Ab
Berndt Schalin
ABOUT US
Our story
Located at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia, Åland is a Finnish archipelago known for its strategic position and forward-thinking spirit. It was here that our journey began, piloting a fully renewable energy system and proving both its technical and economic feasibility. This pioneering project is the foundation for the innovative Power-to-X -solutions we deliver today.
A Visionary Start in the Åland Islands
Flexens was born from a research program and collaboration with leading energy stakeholders in Northern Europe. Our journey started in 2014 in Åland, with Smart Energy Åland (SEÅ), a unique project that demonstrated how a society could run entirely on renewable energy.
Through SEÅ, Flexens gained expertise in initiating and developing renewable energy projects, enabling societies to become self-sufficient and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. In October 2018, Flexens was officially founded to capitalize on the growing renewable energy opportunities and accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels.
One of the energy industry’s biggest challenges is the large-scale rollout and integration of variable renewable energy sources, which demands new technologies and multi-system solutions. Flexens was founded to lead in this fast-growing sector.
Roots in Society Scale Research Project - still brings value to the Åland society
The Smart Energy Åland project (SEÅ), based on several scientific studies, was initiated in 2014 as a public-private partnership. Since then, SEÅ project has actively promoted investments in renewable generation capacity and the decarbonisation of the heating and transportation systems in Åland. Åland has ideal wind and solar conditions, an ambitious climate- and energy strategy as well as a population dedicated to sustainability, which we have reinforced through citizen engagement.
The SEÅ initiative included a large number of completed projects relating to all relevant aspects of sector coupling, including heating/cooling, transportation, industry, and storage solutions. The project offered a unique platform for piloting emerging technologies, fostering new business models, and attracting international interest. It also served as a model for collaboration, energy asset integration, and global technology implementation. Several SEÅ based projects are in continuous use in Åland. Read more about SEÅ (in Swedish, the official language of Åland).
Power-to-X and Hydrogen for a Renewable Future
Power-to-X technologies were chosen as a focus for Flexens, based on extensive research conducted in SEÅ. These technologies offer a vital solution for addressing growing energy demands and achieving carbon neutrality by converting electricity into alternative energy forms, such as hydrogen and synthetic fuels. Learn more about Power-to-X solutions and hydrogen here.
Today, we have come a long way in making our vision a reality − a front-runner in developing large-scale sustainable hydrogen solutions and projects. Our expanding team is made up of driven, entrepreneurial professionals with diverse backgrounds, all united by a shared passion and dedication to building a more sustainable future.
With offices in Helsinki and Mariehamn, our team, led by CEO Berndt Schalin, drives innovation in renewable energy, delivering hydrogen-based solutions for a sustainable future. We leverage decades of experience and numerous successful renewable energy projects.
| Determining the Technical Potential of Demand Response on the Åland Islands (MSc thesis) by Edvard Nordlund and Emil Lind, Uppsala University | 2021 |
| Modelling the Energy Transition on the Western Isles, Scotland: Scenario analysis to compare future pathways on the island of Lewis and Harris (MSc thesis) by Alisdair Price, KTH Royal Institute of Technology | 2021 |
| Optimization of hydrogen production in a wind power-intensive energy system (MSc thesis) by Niko Korpela, Aalto University | 2020 |
| Biochar Utilisation on Åland Islands (feasibility study) by Szilvia Haide, InnoEnergy | 2020 |
| Energy Communities – Case Study Kökar, Åland Islands (MSc thesis) by Joonas Söderholm, Lund University | 2020 |
| Municipal Leadership in Energy Transitions (MSc thesis) by Anna Häger, Linköping University | 2020 |
| Final joint report of the projects FLEXe Demo and CEMBioFlex (report) by Pia Saari, CLIC Innovation | 2019 |
| Creation of Ecosystem of Companies for Implementation (demo pitch) by Tommy Jacobson and Pia Saari, CLIC Innovation | 2017 |
| Seminar at Parliament of Finland (presentation) | 2017 |
| Strong Today – Stronger Tomorrow. A New Vision for Nordic Energy Co-operation (report) by Jorma Ollila, Nordic Council of Ministers | 2017 |
| Åland Factsheet (in Finnish) by Tommy Jacobson, CEO, CLIC Innovation | 2016 |
| Scenarios for a Sustainable Energy System in the Åland Islands in 2030 by LUT University | 2016 |
| Optimisation Perspectives in the Åland Energy Market (MSc thesis) by Julia Marie Leichthammer, Technische Universität Darmstadt | 2016 |
| ÅTEC Feasibility Study | 2015 |
- Carbon Negative Åland: Strategic Roadmap (2021) by Pyrhönen et al., LUT University