Nordic Green News - 10 July, 2020

Sweden government announces transition to circular economy

The Swedish government has adopted a national strategy for a circular economy that sets out the direction and ambition for a long-term and sustainable transition of Swedish society. In a press release, Deputy Prime Minister, Isabella Lövin said 50% of our climate emissions and more than 90% of the world’s water shortages and biodiversity losses are a result of inefficient resource management. The core of the strategy is a vision a “society in which resources are used efficiently in toxin-free circular flows, replacing new materials.” The transition to a circular economy must be conducted jointly by politicians, the business sector, the public sector, academia, private individuals and civil society. The Government’s role is to create the conditions for the good work that is already under way in regions and municipalities, the business sector, universities and other higher education institutions, and civil society. 

The circular economy focus areas are:

1. Sustainable production and product design.
2. Sustainable ways of consuming and using materials, products and services.
3. Toxin-free and circular ecocycles.
4. Creating a driving force for the business sector to promote innovation and circular business models.
5. Promoting the development of Sweden’s bioeconomy (from forest feestocks)

 

New hydrogen pilot plant to be built outside Bergen

Enova, the Norwegian government entity responsible for promotion of environmentally friendly production and consumption of energy has granted NOK 77 million in investment support to Coast Center Base AS (CCB) and ZEG Power for the establishment of an industrial pilot plant for carbon-neutral hydrogen production near Bergen. ZEG Power is a Norwegian technology company that has developed technology to produce hydrogen from gas with integrated CO2 capture. The plan is to start production of carbon-neutral hydrogen in 2022.

 

Separately, it was reported that Equinor and 32 other gas suppliers lobbied to get blue hydrogen (from natural gas) introduced into the EU strategy. But, the EU has shown little interest in blue hydrogen, opting for green hydrogen produced via renewable energy.

 

Coop Denmark orders Scania's all-electric truck

Denmark's largest retail company, Coop, will take an all-electric truck into operation for its city distribution. The Scania truck, with an estimated range of 140 km, is planned to be put into operation in Coop's operations during the first quarter of 2021. 

 

Powercell participates in garbage truck-related EU project

Powercell, a Swedish maker of fuel cells, announced that it is to participate in a project for a fuel cell-powered garbage truck. The truck will be operated by the environmental company Renova, on behalf of city of Gothenburg, which wants to increase testing of electrified garbage trucks. The project is part-financed by the EU project called Revive, which runs over four years. "Garbage trucks are ideal for broad testing of fuel cell technology because they run fixed routes every day and thus do not require any extensive expansion of infrastructure for refueling hydrogen," the company writes in the press release.

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