Articles in power production

Questions about long-term conditions, market development, and innovative solutions are central when RISE brings together stakeholders from across the energy sector to discuss the future energy system.

The tyres on our cars and the ink in our office printers contain carbon black, a chemical manufactured with a significant climate impact. Researchers at RISE were the first in the world to develop a special method of producing black carbon powder that is more environmentally friendly.

The use of biomass has become a controversial issue in the debate about future energy systems. Some regard it as essential for the green transition. However, others warn of the negative effects of using forest residues for energy purposes. So, what do two researchers specialising in energy systems analysis have to say on the matter?

In an era defined by rapid shifts and global challenges, the pursuit of sustainability, resilience, and competitiveness has never been more important. Yet, the path to achieving these goals remains anything but straightforward. The Swedish region Västra Götaland believes that additive manufacturing can play a crucial role.

More and more individuals and property owners are investing in solar panels, and the market is growing rapidly. Patrik Ollas, researcher at RISE and former industrial PhD student at Chalmers, published his thesis on battery storage and solar energy in the spring, looking at new opportunities for the technology.

Energy communities are a smart way to produce, recycle and share energy between homes, industries and other types of buildings. Since the beginning of the year, energy sharing between residential buildings has been authorized, opening up new possibilities.

Are AI and other advanced digital services environmental villains or climate heroes? On the one hand, they can help increase sustainability, but at the same time, the data centres that power them require large amounts of energy and water. – A lot is happening in the industry now, with investments in everything from energy efficiency to heat recovery," says Tor Björn Minde of RISE.

The use of carbon atoms in various materials and energy carriers has provided the foundation for much of our welfare. Parallel to this, it has brought upon us key challenges in the shape of environmental problems and the climate crisis. We now need to find ways to use carbon-based substances without simultaneously destroying our planet. And the solution may be found in the fumes from many industrial chimneys.

At the moment, aviation is, to say the least, a hive of activity. To get help looking into the crystal ball and seeing where this development could lead, the Swedish Transport Administration turned to RISE. “We needed to draw up a research plan for the administration’s areas of responsibility, which meant that we needed an external environment analysis,” says Lars Spångberg, a strategist at the Swedish Transport Administration.

The Swedish shipping industry generates sales of just over SEK 85 billion, indirectly employs 100,000 people and transports more than 170 million tonnes of goods and 67 million passengers – every year. Now, international regulations require significantly reduced carbon dioxide emissions from shipping. Parallel to this, increasingly more suppliers and subcontractors are making increasingly explicit demands that any sea freight must be both environmentally friendly and economically viable. Can shipping be made fossil-free? And is society ready for the major transition shipping faces?

The country's food producers need to think inventively and smarter. More climate- and more environmentally friendly products in the stores, increased organic food production and reduced food waste. This and much more is needed to achieve the goal of a sustainable food chain and a climate-neutral Sweden by 2045. 

Local electricity markets where you get paid to be flexible is one way of contributing to solving the energy challenges of the future.

At RISE, more than 3,000 problem-solvers are tackling some of society’s most pressing challenges. One of these people is André Selander, who has been working as an energy technology researcher for six months.

Sweden needs to increase its electricity production significantly by 2050 to secure the electrification of society and industry. However, in addition to increasing production, improved efficiency, better decision-making and a willingness to consider the whole rather than the parts can also play key roles.

Large parts of the wind power expansion in Sweden are being funded by a new kind of stakeholder. A trend that is expected to grow stronger as large global capital flows seek green net zero investments. – “We’re very much in a position to accomplish something that the rest of the world can benefit from,” says Jonas Bergqvist, Focus Area Manager Energy Systems of the Future at RISE.

In order to meet the climate goals, an array of fossil fuel products need to be phased out and replaced with renewable ones. But since the availability of these is limited, it is important to use the resources as intelligently as possible. One way is to use processes where electrification and bioenergy work together.