In her doctoral dissertation at the University of Vaasa, Michaela Hissa demonstrates that fuels refined from waste and industrial by-products can help reduce emissions in existing engine applications.
News articles
EnergyWeek, the most important international energy event in the Nordic countries, took place in Vaasa city hall between 17 and 20 March 2025. The annual EnergyWeek gathers experts, industry leaders and policymakers to share information, hear about the latest news and most interesting cases, extend their networks and do business. As an official partner of EnergyWeek, the University of Vaasa was involved in various events and seminars during the week. From high-level panel discussions to award ceremonies and networking events, the university highlighted its commitment to research, collaboration, and innovation in the energy sector.
The University of Vaasa and AGCO Power are establishing a research and competence center for engine technology to expand low-carbon energy solutions for off-road heavy equipment.
During the anniversary celebration on Monday 27 January, the University of Vaasa awarded the research and teaching acts of the year. The Research Act of the Year 2024 was awarded to Professor of Energy Technology Maciej Mikulski, Head of Financial Services Elina Blomqvist, Laboratory Manager Sonja Heikkilä and Dean of the School of Technology and Innovations Raine Hermans. University teachers Susanna Mantila and Mia Juthman got the Teaching Act of the Year 2024. In addition, University Lecturer Juho-Pekka Mäkipää received the Good Teacher award and University Lecturer Teemu Mäenpää an honorary mention from the Students' Union of the University of Vaasa.
The University of Vaasa, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, and Åbo Akademi University have received funding from the EU-Interreg Aurora Programme to develop a solution for managing forest residues and producing sustainable fuel. The project aims to develop a process that produces a blending component for fuels for internal combustion engines.
The Integrated Hydrogen-Argon Power Cycle (iHAPC) project consortium, led by the University of Vaasa, aims to revolutionise the energy sector by showcasing sustainable hydrogen-argon power cycle (H-APC) at pilot scale. The concept is targeting unprecedented power generation efficiency with net-zero emissions.
The Flexible Clean Propulsion Technologies (Flex-CPT) project consortium, led by the University of Vaasa, aims to develop innovative, clean, and flexible solutions for maritime transport and off-road machinery. The goal is to reduce dependency on single fuel types, develop flexible hardware design, smart combustion control, efficient thermal management, and adaptive emission and hybrid energy management. These solutions will make it possible to use zero- and low-carbon fuels in the best way, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 100%.
Teuvo Maunula, DTech. has been appointed joint professor of practice for the University of Vaasa and University of Oulu, with a specialisation in catalytic aftertreatment systems. He will complete the three-year term under the School of Technology and Innovations.
Maciej Mikulski, PhD, has been appointed Professor of Energy Technology specialising in Internal Combustion Engines at the University of Vaasa. While acknowledging the role of electrification, Mikulski believes that the era of internal combustion engines is not coming to an end but rather entering a new chapter. Fuel flexibility and new carbon-neutral synthetic fuels will bring new challenges but also new opportunities to engine research.
Noise from marine traffic has an ill effect on the surrounding environment. Reduced engine noise improves travelling comfort too. Business Finland has granted funding to the University of Vaasa for the Silent Engine research project. Together with partners, the University of Vaasa with its VEBIC laboratories will seek new silent and vibration-free solutions to help the Finnish powertrain industry meet the criteria set for noise, vibration, and sustainability.