25 November 2021

Swedish Armed Forces oppose wind park outside Stockholm’s archipelago

The Swedish Armed Forces have opposed Njordr Offshore Wind’s plans of establishing Sweden’s largest offshore wind park comprising 253 wind turbines outside Stockholm’s archipelago. The project proposal was declined as it is estimated to cause significant damage to the national interest in the military part of Sweden’s defence according to Emil Markström, community planner at the Swedish Armed Forces – national interests that are classified. Njordr Offshore Wind remains optimistic, as the government manages proposals within economic zones that are outside of sensitive areas governed by the Swedish Armed Forces (DN).

Nordics’ largest textile recycling centre opens in Finland

Rester and Lounais-Soumen Jätehuolto (LSJH) operate the Nordics’ largest textile recycling centre in Paimio, southwest Finland to convert household and industrial textile waste into recycled fibres. The partners believe the centre to be a commercially feasible solution to the 100 million kilos of textile waste created annually in Finland as it boasts a recycling capacity of 12 million kilos. Additionally, it will play an important role in aligning with the EU’s tightened regulations as sorting textile waste is scheduled to become mandatory in 2023 in Finland and across the EU in 2025 (Good News Finland).

Wärtsilä targets energy storage in Belgium

Finland’s Wärtsilä enters the energy storage market in Belgium by delivering and servicing the country’s largest energy storage system – 25 MW or 100 MWh. The new system is delivered under an extended equipment delivery and a long-term service agreement and is expected to help regulate fluctuations such as wind energy production in Belgium’s grid. The energy storage system will play an important role in Belgium’s aim of phasing out nuclear power by 2025 and is expected to become operational in 4Q22 (Press release, Energi Watch).

Resolux acquired by Gexpro Services

Resolux, a Danish global supplier for the wind turbine industry was acquired by American Gexpro Services – after a year-long sales process. The American supplier of electric parts will carry on with Resolux as is, based in Denmark and use its global presence in the wind turbine industry as a complement to Gexpro’s world-class electric parts in- and out of the wind turbine industry according to John Winther, Sales Representative Europe at Gexpro Services (Press release).

Thor offshore wind farm tender winner to be decided in a lottery draw

Thor, the offshore wind farm tender offered by the Danish Energy Agency, has elected to draw a winner as several bidders have offered the minimum price of DKK 0.01/kWh for the largest capacity of 1,000 MW. The winner of the tender will thereby pay the Danish state the maximum price of DKK 2.8 billion (2018 prices) which is an average of DKK 2/kWh during the 30-year lifetime of the wind park – thus generating money for the state. This shift from a technology (offshore wind technology) that relies on sudsidies, to a technology that is commercially viable and generates state income should diffuse all political worry and accelerate the development of offshore wind according to Wind Denmark, a Danish sector organisation representing 2,700 members in the wind turbine sector. The number of bidders in the lottery is yet to be disclosed. However, the bidders are invited to the lottery, alongside an independent auditor and by the Attorney General, to ensure full transparency and that the draw complies with tendering laws (Press release).  

TECO 2030 leads project group for hydrogen-powered high-speed vessel

TEC0 2030 will lead a project group that will build a hydrogen-powered high-speed vessel for the Port of Narvik that needs a new workboat that is capable of high speeds and is emissions-free. To this end, the Port, alongside 8 project partners, will apply to state-funding from Enova to build the hydrogen-powered vessels. TECO 2030 will provide the fuel cells required in the vessel that will be built by Grovfjord Mekaniska Verkstad (GMV) – expected to be launched in 2023. UiT in Narvik will join as a research partner and provide its students with the competence required for working with the project partners. The engineering company BLOM Maritime, hydrogen supplier Everfuel, consulting firms Proactima and KUPA, and the Norinnova Narvik that specialise in commercialising research have all joined as project partners. Following the hydrogen-powered vessel, the project plans to establish a hydrogen filling station in proximity to the port to provide both road- and maritime transportation. (Press release).

NEL ASA receives purchase order from Ovako: 20 MW alkaline electrolyser used in fossil-free steel

Nel ASA has received a purchase order for a 20 MW alkaline water electrolyser from Ovako worth EUR 11 million. The fossil-free hydrogen will replace the use of propane gas for heating furnaces at Ovako’s plant in Hofors and marks a major step in reducing Ovako’s already below average CO2 emissions from steel production by another 50%. Ovako’s steel products have a carbon footprint that is a full 80% lower than the global average. NEL ASA is expected to deliver the equipment at the end of 2022, with the first hydrogen production expected in 2023 (Press release).

Finland’s reply to spike in coffee prices: Lab-grown coffee

Amid spikes in coffee prices due to increased transportation costs and drought, Finland claims to have a solution that also reduces the climate impact of the coffee industry – lab-grown coffee sourced from biomass. By taking cells from any part of the coffee plant and cultivating it, the lab-grown coffee is still 100% coffee but without using beans according to Heiko Rischer, Principal Scientist at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. Furthermore, the lab-grown coffee has a potential to significantly reduce the climate impact of the coffee industry by reduced fossil fuels from transportation, reduced amount of required water as well as the reduction of electricity used to power the bioreactors. An expert test panel deemed the lab-grown coffee similar to conventional coffee in both taste and smell with an expected realisation of the product in four years (DI).

Danske Commodities signs PPA for wind project from Dogger Bank

Danske Commodities, the Danish energy trading company, announced the signing of a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to trade and balance 480 MW from Dogger Bank C – one of three Dogger Bank offshore wind projects off the coast of England. This represents Danske Commodities third PPA with Dogger Bank, following two 15-year PPA’s signed in August 2020 for 240 MW each with Dogger Bank A and B – resulting in a total of 960 MW. The Dogger Bank Offshore Wind Farm is a joint venture between Equinor, SSE Renewables and Eni, expected to generate power in the summer of 2023 (Business Green, Energi Watch).

OX2 acquires solar energy projects in south of Sweden

OX2 has acquired the rights to two 45 MW solar energy projects from Helios Nordic Energy, located in Skåne, Sweden. The acquired projects are added to OX2’s portfolio of solar projects under development in Sweden and align with its increased focus on solar energy. OX2 and Helios Nordic Energy will jointly develop the project until OX2 obtains the required permits, after which OX2 will take responsibility for construction and operation (Press release, Energi Watch).

Oatly sponsors Worldfavor platform: “Linkedin for sustainability”

Oatly is one of the main sponsors of Worldfavor, a new platform that enables knowledge transfer between companies regarding sustainability. The platform, likened to a Linkedin for sustainability data, aims to increase transparency by showcasing ESG-data from different companies and simplifying the sustainability reports between companies as all sustainability data is available on the platform. Ultimately, Worldfavor targets 1 million companies willing to share sustainability data on its platform within three years according to Andreas Liljendahl, CEO of Worldfavor. In addition to Oatly, Danske Bank and Grant Thorton enter as main sponsors to the platform (DI). 

Sida and Nefco launch fund for sustainable cooking and reduced deforestation in Africa

Modern Cooking Facility for Africa (MCFA) is a new fund launched by Sida and Nefco will stimulate the availability of clean and cost-efficient energy solutions and develop new markets for the sector of sustainable cooking in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia. By reducing the use of wood and charcoal, the funding programme will positively impact both health- and climate issues in the targeted countries. The MCFA programme will announce its first application round during the first half of 2022 and contribute to the UN’s global SDG’s.

• Good health and well-being (SDG 3)
• Gender equality (SDG 5)
• Affordable and clean energy (SDG 7)
• Climate action (SDG 13)
• Life on land (SDG 15)

Sweden’s financial contribution to the MCFA fund is SEK 275 million (Press release).

What we’re reading

• EU Carbon Rises to Record as Germany Considers Floor Price (Bloomberg)
• The world perilously close to a failure in Glasgow (Dagens Nyheter, Swedish)
• Germany’s stunning new EV targets under “traffic light” coalition of SDP, Greens and business (TheDriven)

---

---