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Research on new and renewable energy at Otaniemi Campus was initiated at the Department of Engineering Physics (then at Helsinki University of Technology) in 1979. Early activities included research on solar energy and energy storage, establishing the base for university teaching in new energy, but also coordinating the first national R&D programme in new energy in Finland 1988-1998. 

In 2014, teaching activities were expanded into multidisciplinary energy science with elements from science, technology, economics and humanities. 

In 2025, the new energy activities at Department of Applied Physics were rearranged due to the retirement of Professor Peter D. Lund (March 1). Most of the activities of the Group continue elsewhere through past group members, e.g. fuel cells and hydrogen technologies at Tampere University (Professor Imran Asghar) and solar energy at the University of Turku (Professor Kati Miettunen).

Part of the solar energy research also continues at the Department of Applied Physics in a new group Energy Materials & Interfaces (Professor Yaolin Xu, University Lecturer Janne Halme). 

Advanced Energy Solutions Programme at Aalto University continues which several of the teaching activities which were discontiued at the department. Some minor activities will continue in the Group.

Research

Some minor activities mainly related to international collaboration in new energy will still be pursued in the Group.

These will include systematic issues in the energy transition, advanced flexibility solutions for new renewables (solar and wind), and nanomaterials for next generation energy devices, in particular energy storage and hydrogen technologies.