There are several drivers behind the push to decarbonize industries and to find innovative solutions to meet Sweden’s economic needs. Naturally, reducing emissions is one of them, but eliminating our need to import minerals and products from countries like Russia is also of increasing importance. In Luleå, LKAB is planning to build an industrial park where phosphorus and rare earth elements will be refined.
– The volumes we know of today are enough to replace Russia’s export to the EU, said Niklas Johansson, Senior Vice President Communication and Climate at LKAB.
Another example is Fertiberia, which chose Luleå-Boden area as a location for the first large-scale plant to produce green ammonia and fertilizers. This means Sweden, as one of the few countries in the EU without domestic production of fertilizers, can soon become self-sufficient and one of the first exporters in the world of ammonia and fertilizers with low carbon dioxide emissions. Their main reason to establish in Northern Sweden is access to low cost, 100% renewable electricity.
Investors and customers all at once
There is no doubt there is huge demand for green solutions in the market. Green steel, green batteries, and the storage of hydrogen – these are just some of the areas attracting a lot of investment and innovation. At the same time, the green transition requires a lot of risk-taking from companies and investors. Northvolt in Skellefteå and H2 Green Steel in Boden both use the same financing model, called the Foundry Model. This means they partner up with their customers and suppliers.
– As an important part of our concept, we have designed our manufacturing facility to be custom-made. We have already presold 1.5 million tonnes of green steel volumes, said Maria Persson Gulda, CTO at H2 Green Steel.
More establishments to come
During Demo North Summit, great news was revealed. Swedish company WA3RM is planning on building large-scale cultivation of locally produced vegetables and fish in Gällivare. The production facility, will be powered by waste heat from HYBRIT, the joint venture between LKAB, SSAB, and Vattenfall, and it will be the largest project utilizing waste heat in Sweden.
Also in space technology, Northern Sweden is gazing into the future. At Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) in Kiruna, the newest facility Spaceport Esrange will soon become the first place within the EU capable of launching satellites and reusable rockets. The participants of Demo North Summit got an exclusive look at the base in Kiruna, where the expected maiden flight will take place within a year.
Lena Segerlund, CEO at Invest in Norrbotten summarized the Demo North Summit 2022 thusly:
– For sure, there are major challenges. But if together we dare to invest, then great possibilities also open up. Looking ahead, Sweden needs to continue to invest strongly in green electricity production and the development of the national electricity grid. And we will need to work together to recruit the 20 000 new employees and their families who we will welcome to our region from across the world.
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