Nordic Battery Summit Lands in Tampere as Regional Demand Surges

European battery storage capacity grew 45% in 2025 and has expanded tenfold since 2021 to 77.3 gigawatt-hours, Reuters reported. Business Tampere says that rapid growth is helping to accelerate activity in the Tampere region.

The International Energy Agency’s World Energy Investment 2025 report warns investment in grids and storage must keep pace with renewables; it estimates clean energy investments will reach $2.2 trillion in 2025 compared with $1.1 trillion for fossil fuels.

Locally, Business Tampere highlights two particularly strong segments: energy storage systems and battery applications for mobile, heavy-duty machinery. “Enico and Merus Power focus on energy storage, and Avant Power is also moving in that direction,” industrial specialist Heini Wallander said, noting that data management is a competitive strength for regional firms.

Pirkko Eteläaho, circular economy account manager at Business Tampere, said reliability in Finland’s harsh seasonal conditions is a key selling point. “Our four seasons, especially cold and snowy winters, add an extra layer of complexity,” she said, pointing to machines used in mines, forests and construction sites that must withstand dust, vibration and extreme temperatures.

Business Tampere warns of headwinds: Europe’s reliance on Chinese industry, slow permitting, grid connection bottlenecks and fragmented regulation are delaying projects. Finland is pushing upstream activity too — Keliber began lithium extraction in Kaustinen in February and the state announced a €40 million support package to speed up mining and refining. VTT’s Lithos project aims to improve lithium recovery and boost European supply chains.

The Nordic Battery Summit will gather manufacturers, utilities and researchers to discuss market trends, battery systems for demanding environments and the role of artificial intelligence in energy management. The event runs on May 19–20 in Tampere.