20 April 2023
Today's Top Nordic Green News:
- Nordion Energi partners with Nature Energy for huge biogas investment in Sweden
- EU and Norway to sign non-binding green partnership agreement, delayed by disagreements
Nordion Energi partners with Nature Energy for huge biogas investment in Sweden
Nordion Energi, which owns and operates the main gas network in southwestern Sweden, has partnered with Nature Energy, recently acquired by Shell, for a multi-billion dollar investment in biogas production facilities in southwestern Sweden. The partnership aims to increase biogas production by a total of 5 TWh by 2030, with the ultimate goal of running the first fossil-free gas network in Europe.
EU and Norway to sign non-binding green partnership agreement, delayed by disagreements
The EU and Norway are set to sign a non-internationally binding agreement on a green partnership, which will include developing carbon capture and storage, renewable energy and green and low-carbon hydrogen. The agreement has been in negotiation for over a year and was originally scheduled to be signed during the UN climate summit in Egypt last autumn but was postponed due to disagreements over wording related to oil and gas extraction in the Barents Sea. The EU and Norway have had a series of challenges in the past year, including strained relationships due to high gas prices and ongoing negotiations for EEA quotas and market access for seafood. It is expected that the EU will pressure Norway to invest more of the profits from high gas prices in measures for the EU's economically weaker member states.
The deal is similar to the green alliance signed by Japan and the EU, and a green industry agreement has also been worked out between Norway and the EU, which includes a "strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials and the value chain for batteries."
Norwegian Parliament urges consideration of CCS technology as alternative to electrification at Melkoeya LNG plant
Norway's parliament has asked the government to consider carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology as an alternative to electrification for reducing carbon emissions at the Melkoeya LNG plant, one of the largest emitters of carbon dioxide in Norway. The parliament did not call for a complete halt or delay to the electrification project being pursued by Equinor and its partners. Moreover, the project has faced opposition due to concerns about its impact on green industry development, power prices and the rights of indigenous Sami reindeer herders. The project has become a key issue for voters in the region ahead of local elections.
Peab and SSAB team up for research project on climate benefits of fossil-free steel in construction industry
Peab and SSAB are launching an 18-month research project to study the climate benefits of HYBRIT technology's fossil-free steel in the Swedish construction industry. The study aims to estimate the climate benefits of fossil-free steel and to support the development of a climate-neutral construction industry by 2045. Currently, there is no quantification of the climate saving potential in the building and construction sector for fossil-free steel produced with HYBRIT technology. The partnership between the companies also includes Peab's access to fossil-free steel from 2026 and the joint analysis of opportunities to reduce the construction industry's climate footprint.
Chinese investment in Swedish wind turbines fails as all turbines suffer from technical problems
Chinese state-owned company Sinovel's investment in wind turbines in Sweden over the last 11 years has failed, with all twelve wind turbines in Karlstad, Gothenburg and Kalmar facing technical problems, changes of ownership, and working environment shortcomings. The company no longer has any operations in Sweden, and they have declined to comment.
Swedish government reduces budget for marine mapping, impacting offshore wind power expansion
The Swedish government has reduced funding for the Swedish Geological Survey's (SGU) marine mapping work, which includes mapping the seabed, from SEK 35 million to SEK 19 million. This move is expected to slow the pace of mapping the seabed, which is crucial for offshore wind power. SGU's Director General, Anneli Wirtén, stated that the mapping of the seabed would now have to take place at a slower pace. The government is reprioritising the funding towards SGU's mission to investigate suitable locations for carbon dioxide storage, and promoting mining prospecting in Sweden. It is unclear if the government will increase funding for marine mapping in the future.
Metacon's subsidiary Helbio receives ISO certifications for quality management systems
Metacon's subsidiary Helbio has received three ISO certifications - ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 - for quality management systems relating to the design and production of power production systems with fuel cells via hydrogen for domestic and industrial use. The certifications were given by TÜV AUSTRIA and aim to ensure that the business going forward can be characterised by high precision, reliability and business sense. Metacon AB (publ) develops and manufactures energy systems for the production of hydrogen gas, heat and electricity.
Swedish floating wind power company Flowocean raises nearly SEK 1.8 million
Flowocean, a Swedish company operating in floating wind power, has completed a rights issue that will add nearly SEK 1.8 million to the company before costs. The company received a total of 70 subscriptions for a total of 17,785 new shares, which means the company will receive SEK 1,778,500 before costs.
EU's Innovation Fund seeks input for support system on renewable hydrogen production
The EU's Innovation Fund is seeking input on a support system for renewable hydrogen production, which is a pilot programme that is expected to be in place in 2023. The scheme aims to provide financial framework conditions for producers of hydrogen and hydrogen-based production processes in new industrial sectors. It is in line with the EU's green grant and the Quota Trading Directive that requires competition mechanisms when awarding public support. The Innovation Fund is one of the largest financing programmes for low-carbon technologies and is financed through the EU's climate quota system. Norway participates on an equal basis with EU member states. The deadline for providing input is May 11, 2023.
European Energy to supply sustainable methanol for Lego and Novo Nordisk
European Energy will supply more sustainable methanol to Lego and Novo Nordisk for the production of POM plastic from 2024. The methanol will be produced at the Kassø plant using solar energy and CO2 captured from a biogas plant in Tønder. European Energy will produce around 32,000 tonnes of e-methanol, which will be supplied to the chemical and shipping industries.
What we’re reading
- World could face record temperatures in 2023 as El Nino returns (Reuters)
- EU gas usage falls 18% after price shock caused by Russian supply cuts (Financial Times)
- Germany to ban oil and gas heating for new houses from next year (Bloomberg)
- Pension schemes to target BP’s Lund over backtrack on climate pledges (Financial Times)
Five of the UK's largest pension schemes, overseeing £244bn in assets, are planning to vote against the reappointment of BP's chair Helge Lund (a former CEO of Statoil) due to the oil company's decision to revise its production targets and carbon emissions goals without consulting with shareholders. Nest, the UK's largest workplace pension scheme, along with Brunel Pension Partnership, Border to Coast, LGPS Central, and the UK's universities pension scheme, are angered by BP's decision to slow planned cuts in fossil fuel production and carbon emissions. The shareholders believe that investors should have been given an opportunity to vote on the changes and that BP should be investing more in low carbon solutions and renewables instead of fossil fuels. BP, which made record profits of over $27bn in 2022, says it values constructive challenge and engagement with shareholders and that its decisions are taken in good faith and in the best interests of the company and its shareholders.
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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