The Finnish Government has made a resolution on reducing domestic transport-related greenhouse gas emissions, i.e. a roadmap to fossil-free transport. The three-stage plan aims to halve transport-related emissions by 2030.
The first-phase uses subsidies and incentives to replace fossil fuels e.g. with electricity and biogas, renewing the vehicle stock and increasing the energy efficiency of the transport system. A total of 20 actions are to be taken that will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than one-third of the objective set in the roadmap. The second phase will involve remote work, new transport services and increasing the obligation to distribute renewable fuels. A third phase allows for supplementary actions, if necessary to deliver the goals.
When effected, the vision calls for 700,000 electric cars in Finland by 2030, and approximately 45,000 electric vans, at least 50% of which would be fully electric. In 2020, there were 55,318 electric vehicles, of which 9,697 were fully electric. There will be approximately 130,000 gas-operated vehicles by 2030, and 4,600 electric and approximately 6,200 gas-operated heavy-duty vehicles and buses operating. Walking, cycling and the use of diverse mobility services should increase significantly from the current level in urban regions in 2030 and 2045. (press release)
Einride, which develops self-driving and electric trucks, has raised $110 million dollars. Among the new investors is the financier George Soros' investment company, alongside Singapore-based Temasek, Northzone, and Danish Maersk Growth. Existing owners have also contributed more, including EQT Ventures, Norrsken and Ericsson. "The addition of financing will be used to accelerate the implementation of sustainable shipping solutions with Einride's extensive customer base in Europe and the USA," the company writes in connection with the capital injection.
In 2019 Einride had sales of SEK 20 million and reported a loss of SEK 90 million. (press release, Breakit)
While Germany, France and Spain have plans to spend billions of euros each on hydrogen, the Norwegian government set aside just NOK 100 million for hydrogen in the state budget, leading it to be criticized for being toothless. Industrial players such as Nel, Yara and Statkraft have called for a billion investment. In its’ revised national budget, the Norwegian Government will double its investment in hydrogen to a total of NOK 200 million. Of this, NOK 15 million is for an environmentally friendly research centre.
The Minister of Climate and Environment Sveinung Rotevatn said “When we presented the hydrogen strategy, there was a lot of criticism that it was not concrete enough, and where the projects and the money are. What we said was that the strategy lays the foundation for how the government will work in budget processes, plans and allocations. And that is exactly what we have done, we have added money to the budgets.” (E24)
PowerCell Sweden AB and Hitachi ABB Power Grids have signed an agreement regarding in-depth cooperation on fuel cell-based stationary power systems. The intention is to combine the two companies' technology to be able to package and market complete fuel cell-based stationary power solutions that facilitate the transition to a more sustainable energy production. Initially, the companies will focus on complete mobile container-based solutions with a power of up to 600 kW and stationary module-based solutions with a capacity in the megawatt class, ie, with a total power of more than 1,000 kW. The fuel cell-based complete solutions and service offerings will be sold and marketed jointly. (press release)
Equinor has bought the Polish solar energy company, Wento for an enterprise value of EUR 91 million. Wento has a pipeline of approximately 1.6 GW of solar energy projects in various development phases. Equinor sees the deal as a way to strengthen and diversify its own Polish portfolio. "It gives us a growth platform on land in a transition market ready for significant growth in renewable energy," says Pål Eitrheim, VP of New Energy Solutions at Equinor. (press release)
Following the introduction of a new tax on plastic bags, which saw the price of a single bag upped to SEK 6-7, Swedes' usage of plastic bags decreased by 26% last year compared to the year before. (press release)
The European Commission on Tuesday approved a €400m Danish state aid scheme to support production of electricity from renewables. (press release)
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 clip the stories of most relevance to international businesspeople and policy experts from the flow of news. We supplement these with our own opinion pieces and commentary, in English.