The Kirkkokallio eco-industrial park in Honkajoki, Kankaanpää, has emerged as a significant regional circular economy hub, combining industrial cooperation, resource wisdom and energy efficiency. An extensive heat distribution study has been carried out for the area, which highlights concrete opportunities for utilizing waste heat and locating new operators.
According to the study, over 2024 MWh of potential waste heat remained unutilized in the Kirkkokallio area in 37. This amount of energy offers significant potential for, for example, industrial drying or even cooling. The study particularly recommends locating companies in the area that can utilize waste heat also in the summer.
"Through the study conducted by GMM Finland Oy, we received a lot of researched information regarding the further development of Kirkkokallio, and the active and open participation of the area's companies in the study was commendable," says Tomi Kuusimäki from Satakunta University of Applied Sciences.
The Kirkkokallio Eco-Industrial Park is being developed in cooperation with the City of Kankaanpää's economic development department. The city acts as a link between the area's businesses and research organizations, such as Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, and encourages new investments and operators to locate in the area. The development of the Eco-Industrial Park supports the strategic goals of the City of Kankaanpää in strengthening the vitality and promoting sustainable development of the area.
"Kirkkokallio is an important development platform for us, combining local expertise, industrial cooperation and environmental responsibility. The city's business sector actively supports the development of the area and attracting new operators," says Marko Rajamäki, Director of Business Affairs of the City of Kankaanpää.
The heat distribution study was carried out by GMM Finland Oy as part of the Satakunta University of Applied Sciences' Resource Wisdom research group's Northern Satakunta on the Waves of Green Transition project. The project is funded by the EU's Just Transition Fund (JTF) and the Satakunta Regional Council, with the City of Kankaanpää acting as an important partner. The study will be published in the autumn as part of the Kirkkokallio Eco-Industrial Park compilation publication.
Waste heat investigation one of the research focuses of the Kirkkokallio conference
The development work of the aforementioned project at the Kirkkokallio Eco-Industrial Park will culminate in the Kirkkokallio Conference, which will be held in the Kankaanpääsali Hall on November 5, 2025, from 8.30:16 a.m. to XNUMX p.m. The event is a day-long expert day on the circular economy and sustainable industry.
The day's program will focus on the circular economy concept and energy efficiency of the Kirkkokallio Eco-Industrial Park. Honkajoki Oy and Pekka Passi from Vatajankoski Oy. Matti Lehtinen from GMM Finland Oy will present the recent Kirkkokallio waste heat study and the lessons learned from it, and Lauri Pispa from E-Heat Oy will delve into the role of data centers as part of the industrial ecosystem.
A national perspective on the circular economy and the green transition will be provided by Minister of Climate and Environment Sari Multala, Sitra's Nani Pajunen, and Oskar Karlström, Professor of Circular Economy at the University of Turku. Neste Corporation's Outi Ervasti will open up global lessons on the circular economy from the perspective of a large company.
Further information and registration for the conference: psvsa.samk.fi/kirkkokallio-konferenssi
Photo: Martti Tikka / Kuvaseura Pikseli