Finding The Best Way to Use Polar Night Energy’s Sand Battery

Data Scientist Terhi Moisala brings her scientific expertise to the company.

Terhi Moisala, a data scientist, started working at Polar Night Energy in February 2023. Her main tasks include developing algorithms and conducting storage medium material research.

Moisala creates computer models to improve the operation of energy storage. “Algorithm development is rigorous coding combined with mathematical optimization,” she explains. “The goal is to find the best way to use a sand battery: how to get the best possible return and keep emissions as low as possible.”

Material research, on the other hand, aims to identify other possible sand-like materials to determine how well they are suited for energy storage. “Our goal is always to use locally available materials, such as industrial by-products. So we investigate the thermodynamic properties of different substances.”

Moisala joined Polar Night Energy because she wanted to apply her expertise to mitigate climate change. She got the job through the Post Docs in Companies (PoDoCo) program. “PoDoCo is a great way to get into a company. It allows me to focus on research, and I know it benefits the company,” she says.

Moisala has a master’s degree in theoretical physics and a doctorate in mathematics, both from the University of Jyväskylä. “It was clear to me already in school that I wanted to study physics,” she says. “Along the way, however, I realized that I think more like a mathematician. I like definitions and logic. I like to delve into things.”

After completing her dissertation, Moisala worked as a teacher at the university for a while before becoming a consultant in the financial industry. “As a consultant, I worked with banks and insurance companies. There is a lot of mathematical modeling in finance, and I was able to strengthen my programming skills. I learned how the business world works.”

Moisala competes in beach volleyball as a hobby, which she got into naturally through her love of volleyball. “Sand is a familiar element even through my hobby. It’s always in my hair and ears!”

Post Docs in Companies, PoDoCo program, is a joint initiative of Finnish universities, industry and foundations. The aim of the PoDoCo program is to promote academic research supporting long term competitiveness and strategic renewal of Finnish companies, and the employment of young doctors in industry.

Moisala’s and Polar Night Energy’s PoDoCo program is funded by the Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation. Subject: Optimizing storage medium and operation logic of a thermal energy storage.