At FEEM Solutions we want to make conscious decisions about the products and services we contribute to. Our mission is to contribute to a more healthy and sustainable society, and we believe that decreasing the environmental and climate footprint from fuels and industry is one of the most important ways of doing this. Data from Statistics Sweden (SCB) makes it clear that the industry sector and the domestic transportation sector were the major sources of green house gas (GHG) emissions in Sweden in 2022 - each contributing to about one third of the national GHG emissions [1] - and we see nothing indicating that more recent data would deviate significantly from this distribution. We therefore find it interesting to follow the ongoing work of re-engineering and electrifying several of the heavy industries in northern Sweden - from mining to green steel and battery production. 

IVA hosted panel discussions with representatives from large industrial companies such as H2GS, Northvolt, SSAB, Vattenfall and LKAB, as well as presentations from researchers at IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, and several predominantly Nordic universities. There was also a summary session where an IVA work group presented their report and results from analyzing the ongoing industry transition with focus on aspects such as the role of the state vs private equity, resources and raw materials, politics and energy sources [2].

We found it particularly interesting to listen to the summary of and read the report by the IVA work group: Industrisatsningarna i norra Sverige - Ett kunskapsunderlag för vägledning av djupare analys från Kungl. Vetenskapsakademien (in Swedish) by P. Braunerhjelm et al. [2]. The report is an analysis of the opportunities for and the status of the ongoing green industry transition in Sweden. It includes comparisons to historical projects of similar magnitude, discussion about political aspects, nature resources, climate, and more.

P. Braunerhjelm et al. discuss technical development as a means for decreasing human climate impact, where electrification of the industry and transport sector is considered one of the most promising opportunities to decrease the domestic emissions. The green transformation of the Swedish base industry is largely going on in the north of the country due to good conditions for clean and cheap fossil free electricity and raw materials. In the northernmost part of Sweden the production of hydroelectric power is large, and there are good opportunities for more wind power. 

The IVA work group refers to forecasts of almost doubled power requirements until 2045 (or even 2035) largely due to the green industry transition, where the majority of the need will be in SE1 (the most northern of the four of the Swedish formal electricity areas). As of today there is a maximal power outlet from the Swedish grid of about 25 GW on an hourly basis, and we consume about 140 TWh per year. The total energy consumption could also be doubled, according to some forecasts. Can these future energy and power needs be met? F. Johnsson, professor at Chalmers University of Technology, part of the work group and co-author of [2], claims that it is realistic with an additional production of 120 TWh until 2030, where the majority of the new energy would come from land and water based wind power. Nuclear power currently takes longer to get into production, and considerable amounts of new nuclear power could be part of the Swedish energy mix first after 2030.

Another interesting question is who is responsible for the technical infrastructure investments that shall improve our environment and support sustainable development. The IVA work group discusses the role of the state vs the private sector, and the role of politics. Learning from historical infrastructure projects such as building the national railway, the telecommunication grid and the national power grid, there seems to be quite some consensus in the work group - the state should invest in early stages when the (financial) risk is high, in R&D and in general network structures where private companies are allowed to act. Politicians are responsible for long-term thinking and agreements to ensure clarity and predictability for large long term industrial investments and faster processes for permission of new green initiatives. As a member of the European Union, Sweden is part of the European Green Deal [3] and Fit for 55 [4]. These are initiatives that, among other goals, shall ensure that EU is the first climate neutral continent by 2050, and that the EU emissions shall decrease with at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.

References
[1] https://www.scb.se/hitta-statistik/sverige-i-siffror/miljo/utslapp-av-vaxthusgaser/. Accessed June 23, 2024.
[2] https://www.iva.se/publicerat/industrisatsningarna-i-norra-sverige/. Accessed June 23, 2024.
[3] https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en. Accessed August 8, 2024.
[4] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/green-deal/fit-for-55/. Accessed August 8, 2024.