Mundus Nordic Green News – 30 September, 2020

Danish climate plan cops heavy criticism

Earlier this year, the Danish government announced its climate action plan, with 6 tracks aiming to achieve a 70% reduction in GHG by 2030, corresponding to a reduction of about 20 million tons of CO2 per year. The tracks were;

1. Energy islands with offshore wind turbines
2. Green fuels and Power-to-X (PtX)
3. Energy efficiency in buildings
4. Green heating by district heating or electric heat pumps
5. Green energy and energy efficiency improvements in Danish industry
6. Climate neutral waste sector by 2030

But, according to the Danish Society for Nature Conservation the Government’s plans are too uncertain and unambitious. Maria Reumert Gjerding, President of the Danish Society for Nature Conservation said “We are betting that the technologies of the future will solve the problems, instead of investing more in the technologies that we already know today. The government's own adviser - the Climate Council - has just come up with a plan that shows that today's technologies can go a long way in reducing emissions, and therefore it is incomprehensible that the government sets the level of ambition so low.”

 

Maria Reumert Gjerding observed that the government had only come up plans that will reduce emissions by 6Mt, and thus is only a quarter of the way to the target in the Climate Act of just over 20Mt. She said “I have a very hard time seeing how the government … will achieve a sensible sub-goal in 2025 ... Our climate efforts must therefore be put into a completely different gear.”

 

Separately, the PtX and hydrogen sectors are also unimpressed. At the Hydrogen industry's transport conference “PtX and heavy transport”, the message to the country's politicians was not to confuse progress here with wind turbines. According to Brintbranchen, an Danish hydrogen industry association, “it sounded from pretty much every speaker that we have to act now. The other EU countries are moving faster and with more impact than Denmark is currently doing. Fortunately, we in Denmark have a good starting point - and we can also join the elite in PtX and hydrogen technology. But it requires action and vision.”

 

But the Danish government is not to be rushed. The Minister of Climate, Dan Jørgensen, wrote "We are busy - no doubt about it. Therefore, in the first year of the government, decisions have been made that lead to reductions equivalent to almost a quarter of the way, and we have much more on the way this autumn. The climate program shows that we can reach our goals if we walk on two legs.” Further, the government points out that a faster change, which several parties in the Folketing are pushing for, will result in significantly higher costs. Therefore, the government is investing in a change where instruments are implemented on an ongoing basis in step with technological progress. And that is why the government will take action with "a targeted effort for technology maturation".

 

Oulun Energia invests heavily in the circular economy and carbon-neutral energy

Oulun Energia, a Finnish energy supplier, writes that its strategic goal is to invest heavily in the circular economy and in achieving carbon neutrality in its own energy production by 2035. Its first big step towards a circular economy will be taken when the Rusko waste sorting plant will start full-scale production in mid-October. The sorting of waste will provide high-quality recycled fuel for Oulun Energia's Laanila biopower plant, which will open in November. The sorting process also separates recyclable materials such as plastics, fibres and metals for reuse.

 

SKF's factories will be carbon neutral by 2030

SKF, a Swedish ball bearing manufacturer, with global leadership in its sector, says that it has reduced carbon dioxide emissions from production by 36% vs 2015, and that already today two of the Group's factories are carbon neutral. SKF has recently announced the goal of achieving a completely carbon-neutral production by 2030. The 2030 target covers SKF's own production, ie. SKF's category 1 and 2 emissions. The goal is to be achieved through a combination of process improvements, energy-efficient equipment, as well as the purchase and generation of renewable energy. Ultimately, SKF can also buy high-quality carbon offsets.

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