Cities make long-term decisions and investments that impact energy consumption – 
and, consequently, carbon dioxide emissions. ENPA – Energy as a Service in Urban District Areas (Energiapalvelumalli alueille) project explores the procurement of low-carbon energy service solutions at the district and block level, using real pilot sites in the Helsinki metropolitan area.
Within the project, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences together with the cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa will develop a model for implementing district energy services in cooperation with companies. This will be achieved through co-creation and knowledge exchange. The operating model will help cities establish energy-efficient and low-emission areas.
ENPA is an EU co-funded project within the Helsinki+Espoo+Vantaa Innovations (HEVi) program and operates from November 2023 to the end of October 2026. The total budget for the project is EUR 924,043, of which EUR 554,425 is financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Developing district energy service models: We enhance the planning and implementation of district energy service models through collaboration with companies, including knowledge sharing, market dialogue, networking, and training.
Creating an operational model for cities: We develop a model for procuring district energy services using pilot areas.
Improving the district energy market: We promote the use of locally produced energy and energy recycling, creating new business opportunities.
District/Block = A district or block refers to a group of several adjacent buildings in the same or nearby properties.
Energy as a Service (EaaS) Model = A company provides energy as a service to a customer. The customer only pays for the energy bill, without incurring costs for initial investments, system operation, or maintenance.
The ENPA project develops its solutions by analyzing urban pilot sites: 
Collaboration with companies is put into practice on the pilot sites. These pilots provide valuable insights into:
Are you looking for ways to introduce innovative, zero-emission energy solutions in your municipality, neighborhood or property – without large upfront investments?
Energy as a Service in Urban District Areas project has developed a business-driven energy service model to support the planning and implementation of low-carbon, energy self-sufficient energy service solutions at area and block level. A concise handbook (Energiapalvelumalli alueille: Käsikirja alueellisen energiapalvelun soveltuvuuden arviointiin ja hankintaan) and practical tools help you assess the suitability of regional energy services and carry out procurement.
The Energy as a Service (Energiaa palveluna) podcast is designed for anyone planning or influencing regional energy investments. Each episode opens up new perspectives on energy projects and the capabilities they require – bringing together technical expertise, financial insight, and an understanding of societal impacts.
Through in-depth conversations, the podcast explores what it really takes to successfully sell, design and procure modern energy services.
The host, Antti Tohka, is a Principal Lecturer in Real Estate and Construction at Metropolia and a seasoned expert in energy and environmental engineering.
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences has extensive expertise in the construction sector. Within the ENPA project, Metropolia will design and implement training events tailored to energy service companies and their potential customers based on their needs and expectations.
The second training event was held on February 3, 2026 – read an article about the event on HEVi's website (in Finnish).
The first training event took place on May 27, 2025 – read about the results on HEVi’s website (in Finnish).
