6 September 2021

Denmark’s Minister of Climate and Energy rejects biomass as a sustainable solution

According to Dan Jørgensen, Denmark’s Minister of Climate and Energy, although biomass has helped Denmark remove coal from its energy supply, biomass is not a long term solution for electricity and heat production

He reasons thats the burning of biomass emits CO2, whether we can see it in our national emissions accounts or not. And it is not a solution for the rest of the world, as the planet simply cannot supply enough biomass in a sustainable way. Therefore, biomass needs to be used with care, by using parts of the tree that are residual products from timber, and directing its energy use in the most valuable way. In practice, that means less for energy and more for transport fuels.

Heating Danes' living rooms should be done by completely green solutions, for example electric heat pumps, which turn green electricity into green heat. Therefore the Danish government is working to limit the use of biomass and incentivizing the use of other solutions.  (Altinget)

Pär Nuder and Mikael Kramer appointed board members for Hexicon’s joint venture.

The joint venture between Hexicon, the floating offshore wind technology and Aker Offshore Wind aims to develop wind projects offshore of Sweden. The JV has appointed two industry-heavyweights to its Board - Pär Nuder and Mikael Kramer. Pär Nuder is a former Swedish Finance Minister who later served as a board member and strategic advisor for corporations in the private sector. Mikael Kramer is brought in as an field-specific veteran, boasting a background in the state-owned energy giant Vattenfall as head of Mergers and Acquisitions. The duo complements the four representatives from Hexicon and Aker Offshore Wind, where the JV partners possess the know-how for delivering offshore wind. (press release)

Goodman Memorial Lecture to link climate change to human health

The Gordon Goodman Memorial Lecture, honouring Gordon Goodman, the founding director of the Beijer institute as well as the SEI, will be given by Professor Sir Andy Haines. It is presented by The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Stockholm University on 15 September 2021.

Sir Andy Haines is Professor of Environmental Change and Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who will take part in a press briefing after the lecture alongside Dr Maria Neira (World Health Organization) and Johan C.I. Kuylenstierna (SEI).

The lecture will highlight both direct climate effects to a declining health index such as increased temperature levels, floods, and droughts, as well as indirect effects such as increasing poverty and population displacement. (see press release for registration details)

Duni Group pioneers the use of biofuels in producing paper

The first delivery of biogas has reached Duni Group’s subsidiary Rexcell Tissue & Airlaids. The transition to biogas showcases the possibility of successfully implementing a green transformation of the paper industry while upholding profitability, according to Robert Dackeskog the CEO of Duni Group. (press release)

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