Santtu Vähäkuopus

"The deep technical discussions about how to develop our electricity networks to function smarter and more effectively is what I enjoy most about my job", says Santtu Vähäkuopus, Project Manager for the Technical development of SmartGrids within Distribution Nordic. Santtu is sharing his working time between Sweden and Finland.

What do your duties consist of?    

My main focus is working with technical development issues concerning SmartGrids. A great deal of my working time includes reading, writing and commenting reports concerning different aspects of the future SmartGrids.

What makes you most enthusiastic about working for Vattenfall?

I really enjoy the cross border-working environment. SmartGrids is Distribution Nordics input in realising our Making electricity clean strategy goals aiming at the creation of the future electricity network that our society and customers need. We develop the new network in order to support environmental goals, make energy efficiency easier, enable more diversity in electricity products and increase the connection of renewable energy resources at the same time as the network reliability continues to improve.

How would you describe your typical day at work?

Although my office is in Stockholm, I still coordinate various technical development projects ongoing in Finland. As I am working in the Vattenfall Nordic organisation, many of the development projects are applicable in both Sweden and Finland. Another part of my duties is directed in making fault clearance plans for the existing Swedish electricity network. My job includes a lot of travelling, but when I am in the office I manage my mailbox, attend meetings with my group or work with network planning.

What do you enjoy most in your work?   

The deep technical discussions about how to develop our electricity networks to function smarter and more effectively.

What do you think is the great benefit of working at Vattenfall?

 As I mentioned before, I really enjoy the international working environment within Vattenfall.

Do you feel you can develop your career within Vattenfall?   

Yes I absolutely feel that! There are always new challenges and opportunities arising, so all you have to do is meet those challenges with open mind and dare to take on to those opportunities.