New environmental permit for the operations in Borås
RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB plan to apply for an overall environmental permit for its operations at the Provaren 1 site in Borås.
The reason is that only part of the operations is covered by an environmental permit, and needs to be renewed. Over the years, operations at Provaren 1 have evolved in response to rapid developments, which are expected to continue in the future. Activities that require an environmental permit include fire safety testing, metal cutting, and the storage and handling of chemicals for laboratory operations.
“The new environmental permit will cover all activities on the site, including testing, trials, research and development in existing, converted or new facilities. It will be sufficiently comprehensive that any future adjustments or changes in focus will not require a new environmental permit. Rather, it is the activities themselves, in the form of testing, research and development, as well as associated activities, that will be evaluated,” says Ulrika Rydén, Head of Sustainability at RISE.
RISE plans to continue carrying out the same activities in existing or adapted premises. The new environmental permit must cover both the existing activities as a whole and any expansion or adaptation.
The environmental permit will include conditions relating to the handling of chemicals, air emissions and noise. To ensure that all significant issues are investigated and presented in the environmental impact assessment, a consultation will be carried out with public authorities, local residents, other operators and organisations.
The application, along with an environmental impact assessment and a technical description, will be submitted to the County Administrative Board’s Environmental Assessment Delegation in the first quarter of 2027.
About RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB
"The overarching objective of the RISE institute is to be internationally competitive and to promote sustainable growth in Sweden. This will be achieved by strengthening the business sector's competitiveness and innovation, and by fostering innovation and collaboration with the business sector to find solutions to societal challenges within the public sector."
Our unique position in the Swedish innovation system is due to the industry-oriented research we conduct, our 130-plus test and demonstration facilities, and the collective world-class interdisciplinary expertise of our 3,000-plus employees.
This allows us to provide innovation, competitiveness and a sustainable transition, all of which are based on scientific evidence and close collaboration with industry and society.
Why we are applying for a new environmental permit for RISE in Borås
At the Provaren 1 site on Brinellgatan in Borås, testing, research and development have been carried out across a wide range of fields since the mid-1970s. Today, around 900 researchers, engineers and various specialists work in the different premises. The organisation remains active in the same field and keeps pace with societal developments and needs when it comes to testing, developing and certifying products intended for the market or the public sector.
You can find more information about the licensing process in this presentation (In Swedish).
Environmental protection, safety and security on Brinellgatan
RISE operates clear procedures that set out what needs to be done, who is responsible, how and when. These procedures are constantly being developed as our understanding of the facility or operations grows, or as systems are replaced or modified. The approach is based on continuous improvement. For parts of the operation, there are separate self-monitoring programmes that ensure follow-up and reporting in accordance with the conditions of the licensed operation.
Risk assessments are carried out for all operations, forming the basis for the physical, technical or administrative safety measures that are implemented. Examples of technical and physical safety measures include the flue gas cleaning systems installed in laboratories where fire safety testing takes place. There is also an on-site water treatment system that treats contaminated process water before it is discharged to the municipal treatment plant. All chemicals have so-called secondary protection in the form of bunds, spill trays, etc. In many cases, they are stored indoors in special lockable chemical cabinets.
Liquid waste and hazardous waste, such as chemical residues, are also stored in weatherproof, sealed containers fitted with bunds and spill trays.
Stormwater drains are fitted with biofilters and so-called seals, as well as an ‘Absol’ system and the option to shut them off in the event of an accident. All occurrences that deviate from standard procedures, accidents or incidents are reported to a centralised system, which forms the basis for improvements and increased knowledge.
RISE Brinellgatan also works closely with the emergency services on risk assessments, contingency plans and clear procedures in the event of a major accident.
The licensing process
The permit process is strictly governed by Chapter 22 of the Environmental Code, both in terms of procedure and content. Detailed information on how the process works is available on the websites of the County Administrative Board and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
It may take up to a year from the consultation meeting to the submission of the application. The processing time at the County Administrative Board is between 9 and 12 months. Once a decision has been issued, it may be appealed within 30 days. After that, the permit becomes legally binding. RISE expects the application to be submitted during the first quarter of 2027.
Consultation
Before an application for a permit can be submitted, a consultation must be carried out. The purpose of the consultation is to ensure that those who will be affected in any way by the activity covered by the application receive information about the activity and have the opportunity to submit their views at an early stage. It is a way of making the process more democratic. The process is governed by Chapter 6 of the Environmental Code and works as follows:
- The company is preparing a consultation document
- To be sent to the County Administrative Board and the local council
- Consultation meeting with the County Administrative Board and the local council
- Decision by the County Administrative Board
- Written consultation with central government departments
- Consultation with those particularly affected (neighbours)
- Consultation with the public and organisations (public notice)
- Consultation report attached to the application
This means that all comments received during the consultation process must be taken into account when determining the scope and focus of the forthcoming environmental impact assessment, and must also be included as part of the supporting documentation for the permit application itself.
Documents (In Swedish)
Samrådshandling RISE Borås 2026 (pdf, 2.84 MB)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is RISE in Borås applying for a new environmental permit, and what is the permit for?
RISE wishes to ensure that all necessary permits are in place to meet society’s needs for research, testing, and development-related services in areas such as fire and safety, electrification and materials development. RISE currently holds a permit that covers only part of its operations. As the permit needs to be renewed, RISE considers it appropriate to include all activities on the site in order to be able to make future adjustments and restructuring without having to apply for a new environmental permit.
Why does the business require a licence?
The activity requires a permit due to the use of machinery for cutting operations on materials such as metal and hard plastic, including drills, lathes, presses, etc. This equipment is used for manufacturing, customisation and preparation for various tests and trials of materials and products. In addition, various processes take place that generate emissions and waste.
Which authority carries out the actual licensing assessment?
The permit requirement is classified as Level B and is assessed by the Environmental Assessment Delegation (MPD), which is a separate authority within the County Administrative Board.
How does the permit application process under the Environmental Code work?
The process begins with a consultation with the authorities, those particularly affected and the general public. Once the consultation has been carried out, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is drawn up, which, together with the application and a technical description, is submitted to the Environmental Assessment Committee at the County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland.& The applicant may be required to supplement the application documents if the County Administrative Board or the municipality considers that something is missing or has been reported incompletely. The application documents are published in local newspapers by the County Administrative Board once they are deemed complete. Both referral bodies and the public are given the opportunity to submit comments to the Environmental Assessment Committee. The Environmental Assessment Committee also requests comments from the municipal environmental committee, the County Administrative Board and others. Comments received are reviewed and the applicant is given the opportunity to respond to them. Finally, the Environmental Assessment Delegation makes a decision, which is published in the local press. A permit may be appealed by interested parties such as local residents and others affected. Appeals are heard by the Land and Environment Court.
How can I submit comments on the consultation document?
You can submit your comments by sending an email to the address on this page. All comments received will be included in the consultation report, which will form part of the application.
Where can I find information about the consultation?
Under the section "Documents", you will find background material and information about the consultation, together with the comments received.
What environmental impact might RISE’s activities have?
The main environmental impact comes from:
- Air emissions from fire and safety testing.
- Discharges from an on-site treatment plant and staff facilities into wastewater.
- The use of various resources, such as raw materials, chemicals, water and energy.
- Generation of various types of waste.
- Transport to and from the property.
- noise
The environmental impact is assessed and presented in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as part of the application, together with the proposed mitigation measures.
Are emissions to the air cleaned and what air pollutants are produced?
Air emissions originate primarily from the fire and battery safety laboratories. These facilities are equipped with air purification systems that filter out particulate matter and various combustion gases. Historically, emissions levels have fallen well below the applicable guideline values. The purification systems have sufficient capacity and efficiency to handle increased volumes of flue gases.
Is the water treated before discharge, and which contaminants are expected?
Wastewater and firefighting water, for example from fire tests, are treated in an on-site treatment plant before being discharged into the sewerage network. This wastewater is then sent to the Sobacken sewage treatment plant for further treatment. Discharges into the sewerage system are already regulated through conditions and self-monitoring. Any contaminants present may be small residues of metals, particles, salts or chemicals from the treatment plant.
Stormwater is generated when rain falls onto hard outdoor surfaces, such as roofs. In areas used for storage or loading, protective equipment is in place in case of an accident or spill. Car parks have filters installed in their stormwater drains to minimise the risk of contamination from parked vehicles.
How are noise and transportation issues addressed?
Technical measures, restrictions on operating hours and careful placement of noisy equipment help to keep noise to a minimum. Calculations show that guideline values set by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency for nearby homes are met.
In terms of transport noise, operations mainly take place on weekdays (excluding weekends) between 07:00 and 18:00, which limits this. Much of the activity on Brinellgatan is theoretical, similar to an office or educational environment; that is to say, it does not contribute to noise. Only 1% of transport to Brinellgatan consists of heavy goods vehicles.
Contact
Please send any comments, feedback or questions using the form below or by emailing: miljotillstand.boras@ri.se. When you email us, RISE will process your personal data.
Disclaimer
As permit assessments under the Environmental Code are ongoing processes, information will be updated as work progresses. This means that the information published at the start of the process may be amended and adjusted as work progresses. However, all information will remain available so that you can follow the process's progress.