26 April 2022
LKAB aims for a faster expansion of green iron, producing massive CO2 reductions
LKAB has decided to increase the pace and the level of plans for the transition to CO2-free DRI (Direct Reduced Iron). When the entire conversion is completed, the goal is for LKAB to produce 24.4 million tonnes of DRI per year. By removing the oxygen from the iron ore with green hydrogen, LKAB can reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 40-50 million tonnes per year, equivalent to Sweden’s entire annual greenhouse gas emissions. However, the faster conversion places great demands on fossil-free electricity and an expanded power grid. LKAB’s needs are estimated at 20 TWh by 2030, 50 TWh by 2040, and 70 TWh per year once the entire expansion is completed by 2050.
Aker Horizons and Statkraft explore opportunities in India and Brazil
Through its portfolio company Aker Clean Hydrogen, Aker Horizons and Statkraft have signed collaboration agreements to jointly explore opportunities for green hydrogen and ammonia production in India and Brazil. In India, the two partners will explore joint development opportunities of fully-integrated renewable power generation and green hydrogen production, targeting domestic hard-to-abate industries such as the steel industry, as well as ammonia for domestic use and export. In Brazil, Aker Clean Hydrogen and Statkraft, together with Sowitec, aim to jointly develop power-to-X projects in the state of Bahia. The first project opportunity being pursued is a large-scale hybrid project, which combines renewable power generation, and hydrogen and ammonia production for the local fertiliser industry.
Aker Clean Hydrogen reports loss of NOK 65 million in 1Q22 report
On 26 April, Aker Clean Hydrogen delivered its first quarterly figures for 2022. The result after tax presents a loss of NOK 65 million, compared with NOK 53.3 million in 4Q21. The operating loss was NOK 67.2 million, compared with NOK 61.2 million in 4Q21. At the same time, turnover fell to NOK 3.3 million, from NOK 5.5 million in the previous quarter. Aker Clean Hydrogen raised NOK 3.45 billion with its listing in March 2021, but since then the value of the company has fallen by 69%.
SaltX and Norrenergi collaborate to strengthen climate-smart energy network
Energy storage company SaltX Technology and Norrenergi have begun a collaboration with the goal of investigating the conditions for making Norrenergi’s part of the northern Greater Stockholm’s district heating system fossil fuel free. Following SaltX’s win in the Helsinki Energy Challenge 2021, Norrenergi became interested in the company’s solutions. Now, the same analysis model will be used to map the conditions for making part of Stockholm’s district heating network even more climate-smart.
Ramboll completes safety analysis for hydrogen project’s start in 2023
Since 2021, the energy company Svea Vind Offshore has been developing a commercial hydrogen project for the production, storage and distribution of hydrogen from renewable energy at the Port of Gävle. The project is now entering the next stage with the completion of safety analyses prepared in collaboration between Svea Vind Offshore and Ramboll, which forms the basis for the project’s detailed design and construction. Overall, the new hydrogen project will produce up to 66,660 MWh of hydrogen annually, which corresponds to a reduction in emissions of up to 20,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. A purchase agreement for hydrogen has been entered into with Maserfrakt, among others.
Sampension buys into AP Møller's geothermal investment
The pension fund Sampension has invested in the Danish geothermal company, Innargi. The investment is made through the partnership with NRGi (NRGi Renewables), which owns 20% of Innargi’s shares. The geothermal company was originally founded by AP Møller Holding which is currently working towards establishing the EU’s largest plant within geothermal energy in Aarhus.
The Port of Gothenburg is ready to bunker and store methanol
The Port of Gothenburg has published its general operating regulations for methanol bunkering, meaning that the port is ready to receive vessels that want to bunker methanol in the future. The port, which aims to become the primary hub for both bunkering and storage of methanol in northern Europe, is also working to create a value chain with the ambition of providing a steady supply of renewable methanol when demand increases. Renewable methanol can potentially reduce ships’ CO2 emissions by 95%, compared with conventional fuels for ships. The Port of Gothenburg is currently in dialogue with actors in the industry, including Liquid Wind, which will begin a large-scale production of eMethanol in 2024.
Permascand signs LOI with RES for research centre on green hydrogen
Together, Permascand and RES have signed a letter of intent (LOI) for the joint development of a commercial research centre for green hydrogen. RES is currently working towards establishing a production facility for green hydrogen in the industrial area of Alby, south of Stockholm. The LOI is to continue the negotiations for the establishment and investment in the commercial research centre which will be used for testing and developing RES’ products in a real production environment. The goal is to be able to provide green hydrogen to local industry between 2024-2025.
Increased installation rate of wind power in 2021
New statistics from the Swedish Energy Agency show that in 2021, a total of 4,754 wind turbines contributed to approximately 16% of Sweden’s electricity production, which is an increase of 136 wind turbines compared with the previous year. The total installed capacity of 12.1 GW at the end of 2021 generated about 1/4 of Sweden’s total electricity use. Piteå municipality possesses the largest installed capacity of 1,113 MW and the municipality of Örnsköldsvik installed the most wind turbines in 2021, resulting in a total of 328 MW. The municipalities of Avesta, Alvesta and Habo, who lacked wind power in 2020, installed 116, 94 and 43 MW of wind power in 2021, respectively.
Enova to support INOVYN’s hydrogen project with NOK 10 million
The petrochemical company INOVYN plans to build a 20MW electrolyser that will produce green hydrogen. The project will provide a reduction of at least 22,000 tonnes of CO2 per year and include the preparation of purchasing an electrolyser as well as exploring the possibility of producing hydrogen for the transport sector. Enova recently announced its decision to support the pilot project with NOK 10 million.
What we’re reading
- Humanity entering ‘spiral of self-destruction’, UN warns (France24)
- Indonesia palm oil export ban fuels global food inflation threat (Financial Times)
- Energy companies are learning the lessons of the banking crisis (Financial Times)
- International partnership to produce e-kerosene using CO2 extracted from cement production (Green Air News)
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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