Demand surges for battery technologies at the core of Tampere’s industry

Battery applications and energy storage are key focus areas in the Tampere region, say our experts. Global demand is on the rise. In the EU, battery storage capacity grew by 45% last year. The latest insights on batteries will be presented at a mid-May event in Tampere.

Text, photos and animation: Petri Kangas / Business Tampere

The battery sector is gaining momentum across Europe.

EU battery storage capacity grew by 45% in 2025, reports Reuters. Total installed capacity has increased tenfold since 2021, reaching 77.3 gigawatt-hours, according to the same source.

In the Tampere region, two key segments of the battery industry stand out, note Business Tampere’s circular economy account manager Pirkko Eteläaho and head of industy Heini Wallander.

“Enico and Merus Power focus on energy storage, and Avant Power is also moving in that direction,” says Wallander.

Battery storage systems are used, for example, to balance fluctuations in solar and wind power.

The second branch of battery expertise in Tampere lies in applications, particularly in mobile machinery operating in demanding environments.

“Our four seasons, especially cold and snowy winters, add an extra layer of complexity. A strong example of regional expertise is mobile machinery used in mines, forests, fields and construction sites. These environments involve humidity, heat, cold, dust, vibration and darkness, and ensuring reliability in remote locations,” says Eteläaho. Wallander adds:

“Data and how it is managed and utilized play a central role in many companies here. I see development in the Tampere region clearly following global trends.”

A trillion means a thousand billion

SolarPower Europe estimates, as cited by Reuters, that reaching EU targets will require another tenfold increase in capacity by 2030.

However, growth is shadowed by Europe’s reliance on Chinese industry. According to Reuters, battery projects are also slowed by permitting processes, grid connection bottlenecks and fragmented regulation across EU countries.

The World Energy Investment 2025 report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) highlights a broader shift: alongside electricity generation, grids and storage are becoming critical. Investments in these areas are struggling to keep pace with the growth of renewable energy.

IEA estimates that investments in clean energy technologies will reach $2.2 trillion in 2025, while fossil fuel investments remain at roughly half that level, $1.1 trillion. A trillion means a thousand billion.

Cellife, based in Tampere, specializes in diagnostics, measurement and quality control for the battery industry. File photo.

Tampere and Finland in the lead

Things are moving fast in the sector, and the latest insights will be presented in Tampere this spring. The Nordic Battery Summit will take place on May 19–20, covering market developments, battery solutions for demanding environments and the role of AI.

More broadly, Finland is not just along for the ride – it is among the frontrunners. Mining company Keliber began lithium extraction in Kaustinen in February. The ore will be processed in Kokkola into Europe’s first battery-grade lithium chemical, reported Yle.

On Monday (May 4, 2026), Yle reported that the Finnish state will invest €40 million to support the ramp-up of Keliber’s mining and refining operations.

The Lithos project, led by VTT, aims to develop more efficient and sustainable lithium recovery methods, improve self-sufficiency and support the emergence of a new industrial sector in Europe.