Mundus Nordic Green News – 11 January, 2021

Norway plans threefold hike of national carbon tax by 2030

Norway aims to increase its national carbon tax more than threefold by the end of the decade, it said in a climate roadmap released last Friday that focused on reducing emissions from non-EU ETS covered sectors. The cost of emissions will be raised to NOK 2,000 ($237) per tonne by 2030 from NOK 590 for most industries at present. Environment Minister, Sveinung Rotevatn said when presenting the cabinet’s “Climate plan 2021-30”. Prime Minister Erna Solberg told a news conference that by mid-2021 the government will also present a white paper on the long-term development of its energy industries, including oil and gas.

 

Risk of bubble in green stocks

Interest in companies associated with sustainability has exploded on the stock market. Some green portfolios rose in excess of 100% in 2020, in a year with a backdrop of pandemic recession. Last week, the First North-listed solar energy company Azelio rose 27%, and Soltech rose by almost 50%. Growth has been so explosive that even industry professionals have expressed their doubts. Alexander Jansson at CB, Fonder, manager of the Save Earth fund, tells Di that there are "tendencies that do not feel completely good". "We are amazed at the price development in some companies, recently Tesla added an entire GM in stock market value in just one trading day".

 

In another sign of the melt-up the value of the hydrogen companies on the Oslo Stock Exchange has rocketed to NOK 85 billion a rise which is happening despite the fact that the hydrogen companies have no significant earnings to show and no expectations expected in the near future either. Sustainability expert attribute the hydrogen fever to Joe Biden's upcoming power.

 

Norway first to reach over 50% electric in new car sales

In 2020, Norway became the first country in the world where electric vehicles made up more than half of new car sales. Industry data showed 54.3% of new registrations were electric last year, up from 42.4% a year earlier. The four best-selling models were the Audi e-tron, the Tesla Model 3, the Volkswagen ID.3 and the Nissan Leaf — all fully electric.

 

Everfuel takes over hydrogen stations from OK, Strandmøllen and NEL

The consortium Danish Hydrogen Fuel (DHF), which consists of Strandmøllen, NEL and OK, has entered into an agreement with Everfuel A / S to take over the shares in DHF A/S. Everfuel will take over the daily operation of the DHF filling stations, which are located at OK's filling plants in Aarhus, Kolding, Esbjerg and Korsør. DHF, which currently operates four hydrogen filling stations for refueling hydrogen-powered passenger cars in Denmark, will continue as suppliers and partners.

 

Green Hydrogen Systems appoints two Board heavyweights

Green Hydrogen Systems, a provider of standardized and modular electrolyzers for production of green hydrogen using renewable energy, has appointed two new members of the Board of Directors - Ørsted's Chairman of the Board, Thomas Thune Andersen and Christian Clausen, a former CEO of Nordea.

 

Denmark records zero “ice days” in 2020

For the first time since the official measurements began in 1874, there were no days without the temperature rising above freezing. The average temperature landed at 9.8°C. It is only surpassed by 2014, when the average temperature was 10.0°C.

 

IKEA makes case for circular

IKEA is campaigning for reuse, with ads beginning on January 11 on TV, social media and Youtube. The message is "Furniture that comes with when life changes". The idea is to inspire to use and renovate things that the target group already has. The films show people who reflect on furniture they have had and how they will be used in the future.

 

Soltech consolidates shareholding in two subsidiaries

Soltech Energy shares surged by 30% last week after acquiring the remaining shares in both Swede Energy Power Solutions and Merasol. The deals are said to make it possible for Soltech to strengthen its offering in solar energy.

 

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