Mundus Nordic Green News – 22 January, 2021

HYBRIT steel wants Contracts for Difference to accelerate Sweden’s hydrogen strategy

Yesterday, Mundus Nordic Green News reported on the launch of Sweden’s new hydrogen strategy. As reported, HYBRIT, a JV between SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall, was a key stakeholder in the development of the strategy. After the launch, Andreas Regnell, Chairman of the Board of HYBRIT, commented “I particularly believe in the proposal for a rapid investigation of Carbon Contracts for Difference. It will be important in the final step of making investment decisions. That is really the part that is missing in our business case… Equally importantly, I want to say is the planning for the (electricity) network, because much of what we want to do very quickly requires that the permit processes for the network be faster, much faster.”

 

Vattenfall, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shell and Wärme Hamburg launch hydrogen project at Moorburg

Vattenfall operated a coal-fired power plant in Moorburg, in Hamburg, until the end of 2020. Commercial operations were terminated after the power plant won a tender in December 2020 for the nationwide decommissioning of coal. 

 

Now, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shell, Vattenfall and the municipal company, Wärme Hamburg,  have signed a letter of intent to plan how hydrogen gas produced from wind and solar energy can take place at Vattenfall's Moorburg power plant. In addition to the construction of a scalable electrolyser, with an initial power of 100 megawatts, the parties will plan the further development of the site into a so-called "Green Energy Hub". This includes analysis of the extent to which the existing infrastructure at Vattenfall's Moorburg plant can be used for the production of energy from renewable sources. 

 

The partners intend to apply for funding under the EU 'Important Projects of Common European Interest' (IPCEI) program during the first quarter of 2021, and hope to start-up the electrolyser as one of the largest in Europe, in 2025.

 

Italy’s Novamont acquires Norway’s BioBag

Italian Novamont, a world leader in the development and production of biochemicals and compostable bioplastics, has acquired BioBag International A/S. BioBag was founded in 1959 in Norway and has been producing biodegradable and compostable products in environmentally friendly plastic since the 1990s. Since 1959, BioBag has grown into a global group with subsidiaries in nine countries and a turnover of more than NOK 400 million.

 

Novamont's original vision from the 1990s was to build an integrated value chain for bioplastics and biochemicals, linked to initiating and improving the separate collection of organic waste. This became a starting point for what is now called the circular bioeconomy, to which both Novamont and BioBag have contributed much, and together, they plan to launch more innovative projects that improve separate organic waste collection and composting systems, especially in North America, the Scandinavian countries, Eastern Europe and Australia.

 

100 measures for circular adjustment of Sweden

In the 1970s Paul Simon, of Garfunkel fame, had “5o ways to leave your lover”. Roll forward 50 years, and Sweden has launched 100 measures to circularize the economy, in its’ first action plan for circular economy. Some of the news are an assignment to the EPA on requirements for mixing recycled raw materials, efforts to increase the proportion of circular and fossil-free procurement and improved waste management. The government will also increase supervision and efforts to prevent crime in the waste area - the complete opposite of the circular economy.

 

Inzile raises private capital

Inzile, a Swedish developer of fossil-free work vehicles, announced that it had decided on a capital raising of SEK 127 million. The money will be used to finance the Inzile’s ongoing operations and its continued investments in technological development of production facilities, vehicles and customer platforms.

 

Havyard develops hydrogen zero-emission vessels in a new segment

Havyard, a Norwegian shipbuilder announced that a European player was using Havyard's hydrogen and technology expertise to develop a new ship concept with zero emissions. The “European player” has requested Havyard's studies of vessel operations and the possibility they have through the Havyard Ocean LAB to create a digital twin of the ship and put it "into operation" on a virtual sea. This provides an opportunity to experiment with hundreds of alternatives, to clarify basic sizes and external frameworks for the ship. 

 

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