16 March 2022
Denmark Government aims for 6 GW of electrolysis capacity by 2030
With the goal to create green fuel for aircraft, ships, and trucks both at home and abroad, the Danish Government has presented an agreement with a number of opposition parties to establish up to 6 GW of electrolysis capacity for Power-to-X projects by 2030. The agreement consists of a support scheme of DKK 1.25 billion which will be distributed in operating support for various hydrogen plants over a period of 10 years. The Government will also present a plan for more renewable power development in Denmark, both on land and at sea, in order for Denmark to remain a net exporter of energy despite the electrolysis expansion’s annual requirement of 52.5 TWh in power deliveries for continuous operation.
The Danish Chamber of Commerce responded positively to the Government’s new PtX agreement, stating that the newly established agreement improves the framework conditions for the PtX sector and recognizes the need for a massive expansion of renewable energy. However, Marketing Manager for Climate, Energy and Environment at the Danish Chamber of Commerce Ulrich Bang, further underlines the importance for Denmark to quickly and massively expand with offshore wind in the Danish part of the North Sea before the green PtX race between European countries is settled.
Montel , Transport Tidende , Elektronik Fokus , Press release
TrønderEnergi and HitecVision invest NOK billions in new renewable company
By establishing a new renewable company, where both parties own 50%, the energy group TrønderEnergi and the energy fund HitecVision will invest around NOK 15-20 billion in renewable energy production, electrification and energy efficiency. The new company has ambitions to have activities throughout the Nordic region, both on the production and service side. Everything will be managed from the head office in Trondheim, and the investment will provide new jobs, activity and investments in and outside Trøndelag.
Sweden will be the first country to set goals for climate emissions from consumption
All eight parliamentary parties in Sweden have agreed on a proposal that sets goals for how climate emissions from consumption will be reduced and when those emissions should be net zero. This means that Sweden will be the first country in the world to include those kinds of goals. Today’s climate goals in Sweden only concern the emissions that are made within Swedish borders, but a large part of Swedes’ emissions take place abroad and come from consumption. Among those are international flights and imports of goods and services, which account for 60% of the emissions caused by Swedes and sometimes described as the “blind spot” of climate work. There have been large disagreements between the parties, and the work was close to failure. The Environmental Objectives Committee (Sw: Miljömålsberedningen), which consists of members from all parliamentary parties, has been tasked with developing long-term objectives to reduce consumption-based emissions. The proposal will be presented to the Government on 7 April and the goal is to reduce emissions from Swedes’ consumption to net-zero by 2045.
Acceleration of climate conversion requires clearer control
The year’s report from Sweden's Climate Policy Council has landed. After having evaluated how the Government’s overall policy affects the possibilities of achieving climate goals, the report states that Sweden has achieved steering speed in climate change, but now acceleration is needed. This requires stronger coordination between different policy areas and clearer control of the Government’s authorities. In its report, the Climate Policy Council further emphasises the broad political agreement behind the Climate Act and the climate goals, a driven business and a strong popular support as some of Sweden’s greatest assets in the development of a fossil-free society.
Svenska Kraftnät: Power lines can only handle half the power needed in northern Sweden
An electric shock slows down the green neo-industrialization in the north. The electricity networks do not have time to expand quickly enough, according to a preliminary announcement from Svenska Kaftnät. The authority is able to offer new electricity networks that provide up to 2,000 MW for the new industrial investments along the Norrland coast. However, the needs are more than twice as great according to applications that have been received. Hence, only half of the needs can be met in the first stage, and new green industrial investments will have to wait.
New forecast of Swedish electricity supply already obsolete
In its latest forecast, the Swedish Energy Agency reported that electricity production from wind and solar will increase sharply until 2024 and electricity exports are expected to grow. Electricity production from wind power is expected to increase by approximately 70%, from 28 TWh in 2020 to 47 TWh in 2024. Solar is also expected to increase sharply, albeit from low levels, and amounts to 3 TWh in 2024 if everything goes according to plan. Total electricity production is expected to increase from 161 TWh in 2020 to 184 TWh in 2024, which would result in a significant increase in electricity export, from 33.9 TWh in 2021 to around 41 TWh in 2024. However, as the forecast was written before the war broke out, Russia’s invasion in Ukraine and the success of projects linked to the energy transition might act as two uncertainty factors that could cause the results to move in an unpredictable direction.
Updated review of the EU taxonomy’s impact on Swedish business and industry
The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise commissioned consultants, Cartina, to conduct an updated interview survey among investors and industry organisations by asking the question: “How will investors use the EU taxonomy when making investment decisions, and how will it affect the business community?”. The report was conducted at the end of 2021 and is based on 34 qualitative interviews with representatives from industry associations, investors and lenders. The main results showed that the financial industry remains positive to the regulations, despite challenges regarding reliable data, while industry organisations are positive about the focus on sustainability but criticise the approach.
Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa signs projects to provide energy services in Zambia
The Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa (BGFA) program has signed its first new agreements in Zambia, following the completion of the pilot program. BGFA will support the expansion and scaling up of high-quality household solar systems and the development of mini-grid connections to help access energy in rural areas and in suburban areas of the country until 2026. The first three projects have been signed with RDG Collective Limited, Zengamina Power Limited and VITALITE Zambia Ltd. These agreements have a total value of approximately EUR 5.9 million and the total project budget is estimated at EUR 20.3 million.
Finnish Betolar develops concrete without cement
The Finnish company Betolar develops concrete that uses secondary material from the process industry and energy plants instead of cement. As a result, carbon dioxide emissions can be greatly reduced. The company’s concept Geoprime is already used commercially for the manufacture of floor tiles, roof tiles, drain pipes and more. Concrete production under license from Betolar is currently taking place at several Finnish companies, including JA-KO Betoni and Ruskon Betoni, as well as at Belgian Tubobel. Recently, Denmark’s largest manufacturer IBF has signed an agreement with Betolar.
Havelstoff ensures annual sales of 4,000 tonnes of green hydrogen
Plagazi has signed a letter of intent with Wirtz with an aim to enter into a long-term collaboration on an annual sale of 4,000 tonnes of green hydrogen, and potentially e-fuels as well. The green hydrogen would be produced in Plagazi’s German flagship project Havelstoff that is to be constructed in Brandenburg and operated together with Neue Energien Premnitz. The estimated amount of hydrogen that Wirtz will purchase covers the annual production of a Plagazi HE-2000 unit and the two parties have agreed on an indicative price of EUR 7 per kilogram of H2.
Oslo Municipality in collaboration with SINTEF to become leading knowledge city
Oslo Municipality and SINTEF recently signed a collaboration agreement on research and innovation. In addition to solving societal challenges, the goal is to elevate the capital as one of Europe’s leading regions for research and business development, including welfare services and health technology, energy, construction and infrastructure, climate, environment and circular economy, digitization as well as transport and mobility.
Nel ASA to supply Solar Foods with alkaline electrolyser system
Solar Foods has requested Nel ASA for the order of an alkaline electrolyser system that will provide green hydrogen to its new Solar Foods production facility, Factory 01, which is currently under construction. Factory 01 will allow Solar Food to scale up the production of its soon-to-be commercial Solein production that is estimated to hit the market in the first half of 2023. The purchase orders have a value of approximately EUR 2 million, and delivery of the equipment is expected to be late 2022/early 2023.
What we’re reading
- Widespread support in EU Parliament for 45% renewable energy target (Euractiv)
- World headed for “costly, disorderly” transition to renewables, warns BP (RenewEconomy)
- Australian electrolyser breakthrough promises world’s cheapest green hydrogen (RenewEconomy)
- Orsted’s North America chief says $4.4bn wind auction was ‘missed opportunity’ (Financial Times)
About Nordic Green News
The Nordic countries are some of the most dynamic and successful economies in the world. They are also leaders in sustainability, from renewable energy, biofuels, carbon capture and storage and the hydrogen economy, circular economy business models and battery development, the Nordics are pioneers in policy design, technology development and consumer uptake. Mundus Nordic Green News is covering this transition for the international community. Every day we curate the stories of most relevance to international businesspeople and policy experts from the flow of news. Mundus Nordic Green Indices summarise the meta-data from our daily coverage to enable easy tracking of trends. We supplement these with our own opinion pieces and commentary.
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