Hydrogen opens new business opportunities in Jyväskylä: now is the right time to join in

“Jyväskylä is definitely Finland’s hydrogen capital. At this pace, the region will see new companies, jobs, and exports in the coming years – not just pilot projects,” says Pekka Niskasaari, who has over 20 years of experience in innovation consulting. 

The potential and markets for hydrogen are growing rapidly 

Renewable hydrogen is particularly well suited for sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as heavy transport, industry, and heat production. It can also be used to store energy and balance wind and solar power. The European Union’s target is that by 2050, renewable hydrogen will cover 10% of the EU’s energy needs. 

Cetrium Oy is one of the companies driving change in the sector. Niskasaari is a founding member and Chairman of the Board of the company. “We are an innovation acceleration company. Our goal is to build our own product brands while at the same time creating jobs for partners and subcontractors. We keep the core of research and development in-house, but production is carried out together with the network,” Niskasaari explains. 

One of Cetrium’s products is the modular NEI hydrogen container. It allows energy to be produced, stored, and distributed flexibly in different forms: electricity, heat, cooling, or fuel. According to Niskasaari, “to put it simply, the NEI hydrogen container has four taps on the wall.” 

The company’s expertise stems from the founders’ long backgrounds in industry and construction, as well as international business. In his own career, Niskasaari has gained experience working with Nokia as well as European and American growth companies. 

The hydrogen sector needs skilled professionals at all levels 

In Finland, Jyväskylä has quickly risen to the core of hydrogen development, where practical applications are already visible in everyday life. The country’s first hydrogen buses will begin operation this autumn, a refueling station is in use, and pilots have been implemented. 

According to Niskasaari, Jyväskylä’s size and character make the city an excellent testing ground for new mobility and energy solutions. Its location, winter conditions, waterways, and large student population create excellent opportunities to pilot solutions. 

A lot is also happening behind the scenes, out of the public eye. 

“The actions of Cefmof in terms of mobility, the green transition, and hydrogen are truly unique. Their activities in Jyväskylä have had a significant impact on us and our component suppliers,” says Niskasaari. Cefmof is a foundation established by the City of Jyväskylä and Toyota that supports hydrogen-related innovations and carbon-neutral solutions. 

The growing ecosystem will soon bring new companies, jobs, and educational opportunities. As hydrogen becomes more widely adopted, experts from many fields will be needed – from maintenance companies to software development and equipment manufacturing. Or, as Niskasaari puts it: 

“Somebody has to repair those buses. It would be a huge mistake if we had top-level technology but not enough maintenance and service expertise. Now is the time to build that competence.” 

Support from Yritystehdas accelerates growth 

At Cetrium, the outlook for the future is both confident and enthusiastic. The company recently took part in the Investor Day pitching competition, where it won a spot in the Jyväskylä Yritystehdas accelerator. 

“That was exactly the prize we were aiming for. Yritystehdas has a fresh approach to accelerator activities and an encouraging atmosphere,” Niskasaari describes. 

Companies in the accelerator process can receive expert sparring in areas such as securing funding, finding facilities, or strengthening networks. For Cetrium, the most important goal is to implement pilot projects with the support of Yritystehdas. 

“We want to carry out striking hydrogen-related pilots – we have the skills and capability to do that,” Niskasaari says. 

Cetrium participated in the Jyväskylä Business Rally Investor Day, held for the tenth time in July.
Photo: Jaakko Jylhä / DEED Creative.

What’s happening in the hydrogen sector in Jyväskylä? 

It’s often said that change looks distant until it happens before your eyes. Pekka Niskasaari, what practical applications will we see in Jyväskylä in the coming years? 

“In the coming years, new types of energy and fuel production will become more common, and hydrogen will transform fuel distribution and energy production faster than many expect,” Niskasaari states. The change will bring innovations that are hard to even imagine. Some of them will be directed straight at consumers. 

Niskasaari believes Jyväskylä’s hydrogen ecosystem will already flourish in just two years. The transformation will create new jobs and business opportunities at many levels, from basic operations and raw material supply to research and education. Both practical doers and knowledge creators will be needed to integrate hydrogen into everyday life. 

Niskasaari gives high praise to Central Finland’s openness and spirit of collaboration. He is committed to maintaining the same philosophy himself. 

“My hope for everyone working with hydrogen is that we keep up the pace, don’t focus too much on what the neighbors are doing, and make sure we get our own work in order,” Niskasaari concludes.