Mundus Nordic Green News – 17 September, 2020

Further details of Finnish climate budget

Nordic Green reported yesterday that Finland’s budget would include increased climate ambition. Late yesterday afternoon the Ministry issued a press release to say that it was making a billion euro investment as part of the EU recovery package. One primary use of funding will be to eliminate peat burning, which has “no place in future climate-friendly energy production”, and peat farmers will be offered compensation under the EU's Just Transition Fund (JTF). Taxation of heating fuels is also being tightened, with support provided to households to switch from oil heating. According to the Minister of the Environment and Climate, Krista Mikkonen, “it is clear that these decisions alone are not enough to stop climate change or even Finland's carbon neutrality, but they provide a good basis for further work.”

 

The programs announced yesterday were consistent with previous recommendations by the Finnish Climate Panel, whose five options were energy efficient building renovations, conversion of oil heaters, new energy charging points for cars, investment in rail and renewable energy.

 

Denmark to join the European Hydrogen Alliance

Denmark will be part of the EU's Hydrogen Alliance and will work to promote Danish companies' position of strength and export opportunities within hydrogen based on renewable energy. According to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Simon Kollerup, “Danish companies are really good at green technology and the production of hydrogen based on green energy is a Danish strength. It is the kind of technology we need more of to achieve our climate goals. At the same time, we must help the Danish companies with the best opportunities and framework conditions, so that it will be the Danish green solutions that are sold around the world. The government will work for this in the EU, because it is especially important that European cooperation is aimed at Danish interests and strengths in renewable hydrogen.”

 

69 green entrepreneurs to Danish PM: We can not live up to climate goals without higher taxes

The climate problem is so great that new technology alone is far from solving the problem. Adequate climate taxes are a prerequisite for our success, write 69 green entrepreneurs. According to the entrepreneurs, “We are some of the innovative companies that are developing the technologies that the Prime Minister is talking about. We appreciate the politicians and the people's trust in us. But we must already disappoint you, because the problem is too critical and too big for politicians to safely leave the task to us.” Their principal argument is that the level of subsidies that they require to fully commercialise their technologies would overwhelm the capacity of the Danish welfare state to pay for it.

 

Danish centre for energy storage via batteries and power-to-x receives DKK 11 million kroner

Industriens Fond has granted DKK 11 million, which makes it possible to establish the centre and further develop it over the next two years, according to a press release, “The vision for the project is to create the basis for energy storage to become a new Danish industrial and research strength position on an equal footing with water and wind energy, district heating, pumps and climate protection. Energy storage and especially Power-to-X have been identified as one of the areas with the greatest industrial potential for Denmark, and Denmark has good research and business prerequisites for becoming one of the leaders in the field.”

 

Moen Verft to build world's first hydrogen - electric work boat for the aquaculture industry

A consortium consisting of industrial players from the entire value chain for hydrogen, from producer to end user, will develop and build a hydrogen-electric workboat for the aquaculture industry. The work boat will be built by Moen Verft, and purchased and operated by Midtnorsk Havbruk, a salmon producer. A comprehensive solution is also being developed with associated infrastructure for production and supply of green hydrogen as a fuel for maritime transport. 

 

Swedish government funds work to commemorate 50 years since first UN environment conference

One little publicised measure announced by the Swedish Government in its press conference on Monday was funding towards a conference to celebrate the 1972 Stockholm conference, which will contribute to the global work on Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement

 

Finnish MEPs celebrate the mention of wood construction in the EU's future speech

On Wednesday, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gave a speech on the future of the Union. In her speech she said that Europe should adopt a new style of building in wood, speaking of a "European bauhaus" that would promote a new, tree-based building system. Several Finnish MEPs praised the mention of wood. For instance, Elsi Katainen (Centre Party) said, "The Commission's previous proposals did not mention wood construction. It has now been raised to the level of speech and creates hope that a sustainable bioeconomy will be at the heart of the climate perspective. Our forests will be to our advantage when we consider how we can manage our climate."

 

Mastercard announces the first fall course in the Lighthouse MASSIV program

Lighthouse MASSIV Mastercard’s social impact partnership program focuses on solving global challenges. This fall the program seeks to scale growth companies in the field of social impact. Amongst the 5 companies chosen are 2 cleantech participants.

• Green Assets Wallet is a Stockholm-based company whose blockchain-based platform brings cost efficiency and lasting confidence to green fixed income markets
• PlasticFri is a Stockholm-based company whose revolutionary technology is transforming agricultural waste and inedible plants into an alternative product to disposable plastic.

 

Volvo expands cooperation with RISE

The research institute, RISE and truck manufacturer, AB Volvo have signed an agreement for a long-term and strategic collaboration. The collaboration includes joint research projects, skills development and innovation issues, working on e.g. fossil-free transport, automation, service development and manufacturing.

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