12 June 2023

Today's Top Nordic Green News:

• Danish Council for Climate Change raises concerns over gas extraction in the North Sea
• Sweden unprepared for solar panel waste
• H2X Global secures second contract for hydrogen fuel cell trucks in Gothenburg

Danish Council for Climate Change raises concerns over gas extraction in the North Sea

The Danish Council for Climate Change has raised concerns about the Danish government's approach to gas extraction in the North Sea. The council argues that continued gas extraction poses a risk to Denmark's reputation as a green pioneer and undermines global efforts to mitigate climate change. Denmark, as a founding member of the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (Boga), aims to phase out global oil and gas production. However, the council believes that by allowing mini-oil and gas rounds in the North Sea, Denmark is contradicting its commitment to climate action. The council suggests that Denmark should invest more in renewable energy expansion and accelerate development rather than exacerbating the climate crisis by relying on fossil fuels. 

The government, on the other hand, argues that the mini-rounds are in line with the North Sea Agreement and do not change the country's climate goals. They state that until Europe completes a comprehensive green transition, Europe will remain dependent on gas, and it is better to source gas from efficient production in the North Sea than from other countries. The council urges the government to close the loopholes in the North Sea Agreement and phase out the mini-rounds to prioritise renewable energy solutions.

EnergiNyheter

Sweden unprepared for solar panel waste

The amount of old solar panels and wind turbine blades is expected to multiply as solar and wind power plants grow, something that Sweden is not ready to handle according to a new report issued by the National Audit Office (Sw. Riksrevisionen). Rules around the production of electrical equipment are particularly unclear, a view that is seconded by the Environmental Protection Agency (Sw. Naturvårdsverket). The Government and other relevant authorities therefore need to ensure that systems are in place to adhere to EU standards on dealing with waste. 

Di

H2X Global secures second contract for hydrogen fuel cell trucks in Gothenburg

H2X Global has been awarded a significant contract valued at up to SEK 240 million SEK by Renova for the supply of hydrogen fuel cell trucks in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden. This contract, resulting from a second public tender, will establish the largest fleet of its kind in Sweden and includes vehicles in various categories, such as garbage compactors and crane loaders. The trucks offer zero emissions while maintaining the same range and load capacity as traditional fossil-fueled vehicles. The introduction of these vehicles will also drive demand for a hydrogen refuelling station, supporting Gothenburg City and Renova in their commitment to transition to zero emissions. H2X Global's local development approach aligns with its goal of making hydrogen a cost-competitive solution for decarbonizing fleet operations.

Press Release

Swedish NitroCapt receive EUR 2.1 million for fossil-free nitrogen fertilisers licences

Nitrocapt has received EUR 2.1 million in funding from the LIFE Climate Action program by the European Commission. The project, in collaboration with Lantmännen, Felleskjøpet Agri and DE VERBAND S.C., aims to scale up and demonstrate Nitrocapt's climate-neutral production process for nitrogen fertilisers. The project's objective is to provide the European industry with access to innovative green technology that offers competitive and efficient nitrogen fertilisers on a large scale.

LinkedIn

Swedish AirZyme receives SEK 500 thousand for enzymatic enhanced carbon capture

AirZyme has been awarded a grant from the Swedish Energy Agency to support their efforts in developing a thermostable biocatalyst that enhances carbon capture and removal processes. The funding will enable AirZyme to further research and refine nature-inspired solutions, focusing on improving the effectiveness of existing carbon capture methods and exploring the development of new ones. The company remains dedicated to utilising nature's CO₂ regulator to combat global warming and expresses gratitude for the support from the Swedish Energy Agency.

LinkedIn

Sweden braces for severe drought and forest fire risk

Sweden is heading towards its worst drought since 2018, which could lead to crop damage, livestock threats, and the recurrence of devastating forest fires. Maps show the dryness of Sweden's forests and the risk of forest fires, indicating that many areas are already at a high or extremely high risk. The situation is expected to worsen in the coming week, with most of the country facing an extremely high risk of forest fires by June 12th. Municipalities across southern Sweden have implemented fire bans, except for one exception. There is risk of water shortages, with groundwater levels varying across different regions of the country.

The Local

Minesto: Interruption of power production during load testing in Vestmanna project

Minesto, a developer in marine energy, has conducted a ten-day load test with a new potential performance-enhancing subsystem. The production was interrupted, and a successful unplanned retrieval from the surface was carried out. The tests aim to improve and ensure the performance and robustness of the Dragon 4 system under extreme tidal flows. Martin Edlund, CEO of Minesto, stated that unplanned production stoppages are a natural consequence of load testing, and Dragon 4 is now undergoing evaluation, servicing and preparations for reinstallation.

Press Release

What we’re reading

• Shell pivots back to oil to win over investors (Reuters)
• High energy prices bring about “first signs of deindustrialisation” in Germany – RWE head (Clean Energy Wire)
• Jefferies sees AI fuelling next wave of innovation in oil and gas sector (Reuters)

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