At what pace is the sustainable energy transition taking place, how should the energy market support this development, and in what ways can we work together to create an even more robust energy system?

These were some of the questions discussed during one of the conversations initiated by RISE with actors in the energy industry—a venture called Energiklivet, where stakeholders from the energy sector participate to accelerate and drive innovation in the energy transition. Here, representatives from both the private and public sectors, as well as interest organizations, meet with RISE to discuss and reflect on developments in the energy transition.

Other relevant questions included how we can jointly facilitate innovative initiatives and what is required for new nuclear power to be implemented.

Sara Bargi is a project manager for future electricity systems at RISE and part of the team behind the initiative.

- We have a very well-functioning electricity system in Sweden today, and fundamentally we are on stable ground—something many may forget. But we are in a development process, and we must ensure that the electricity system continues to deliver in the future, which requires collaboration between many organizations in society, she says.

One issue highlighted by representatives of renewable energy was the deteriorating investment climate, particularly for wind and solar energy. Inflation has driven up the costs of new facilities, while low electricity prices result in poorer returns. It has reached the point where some electricity producers are shutting down operations due to insufficient profitability.

- Low electricity prices are both good and bad. They benefit households and companies that use electricity at low cost, but at the same time, they provide little incentive for companies and investors to build and innovate—which society needs to succeed with the climate transition. So these are not easy issues to manage going forward, says Sara Bargi.

Long-term conditions a crucial issue

One key issue raised for the future is the opportunities and conditions for new nuclear power in Sweden. Examples were shared of how the SMR* market operates internationally and what is needed for small modular reactors to succeed in the Swedish and Nordic markets. Many are still waiting to see the first SMR reactors in operation in the Western world, where large-scale nuclear plants remain the preferred path for many countries.

The long lead times—from planning and permitting to decision-making and actual construction—pose a major challenge for nuclear power.

- The impression is that most participants in the discussions agree on the need for long-term conditions across everything from electricity production and permitting processes to regulations, financial frameworks, and risk distribution. Regardless of the energy source, investors need to feel that they have political support, says Lisa Löfving, Head of Business Development for Energy and Heat at RISE.

Balance is key in all areas

Sweden currently has an annual surplus of electricity production and is one of the EU’s largest net exporters of electricity. However, the sharp increase in demand that many anticipated has been delayed.

- Many of us expected electricity demand to grow rapidly with the electrification of industry and transport. But several industrial initiatives have been postponed, partly due to inflation. Several participants in our discussions emphasized the need for more active measures on the demand side to support actors who need to electrify to reduce emissions. That would also improve profitability for electricity producers, explains Sara Bargi.

Supply and demand must be aligned and connected through a functioning market. New solutions and broader collaboration are also needed to shape the electricity system of the future.

- Sweden’s energy innovation portfolio must grow. According to the Swedish Energy Agency**, investments need to increase by 60% by 2028. Internationally, the IEA*** states that investments in energy-related demonstration projects must increase by 3.6 times by 2030 if the world is to reach net zero by 2050. And it’s not just about technical innovations—we need new processes and business models, environmental innovations, and new ways to implement technology where the public is also engaged in the transition. Otherwise, it won’t happen, and it’s difficult without clear and long-term conditions, says Lisa Löfving.

With increased electricity use, investments are also needed in other parts of the electricity system, especially transmission networks, grid components, and storage.

- It’s important that legislation keeps pace as new actors enter the market, such as vehicle-to-grid solutions and storage companies. Additionally, electricity consumption, grid expansion, and production must develop in sync. If it moves too fast or too slow, it affects electricity prices, says Sara Bargi, concluding:

- The energy system is complex, and it’s important to understand the different influencing factors and that we have diverse perspectives on these issues. That’s why this initiative serves an important role as a platform for collaboration and dialogue among all key stakeholders in the energy system. 

*Small Modular Reactors

** The Swedish Energy Agency’s input for the upcoming energy research bill

 *** IEA International Energy Agency

Would you like to join the conversation or need expert support in energy? Contact Sara Bargi.

Are you interested in energy research and development and want to learn more? Contact Lisa Löfving.

From geopolitical tensions and disrupted trade routes to climate change and market volatility, Swedish industry is under mounting pressure – and transformation is no longer optional. The question now is: how do we shape an industrial landscape that is both robust and future-ready?

Staffan Lund works with industrial transition at the corporate office for regional development at Region Västra Götaland. He’s confident that additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, can be a vital part of the answer. 

What’s the deal with additive manufacturing?

Unlike subtractive or forming manufacturing techniques, additive manufacturing (AM) builds objects layer by layer directly from a digital model. This approach brings a range of advantages: shorter lead times, reduced material waste, greater design flexibility, and the ability to produce components locally. The latter has proven particularly important in recent years, as global disruptions have exposed the vulnerabilities of international supply chains. But can a relatively young and still fairly niche technology really make a difference on a broader industrial scale?

“Additive manufacturing has quickly progressed from a tool for prototyping to a fully viable production method. However, it still represents only a small fraction of overall manufacturing – just a few per cent. As a result, many of its potential sustainability gains, such as reduced material waste, lighter components, and lower emissions, remain largely untapped. Realising this potential will require targeted efforts – and this is where we believe the Application Center for Additive Manufacturing at RISE can make a real difference,” says Staffan Lund.

Increasingly Important Across Multiple Sectors

With the highest industrial employment in Sweden and manufacturing at its core, Västra Götaland is a region where these matters are particularly relevant. Though not traditionally a stronghold for industrial R&D, the region was quick to recognise the strategic value in aligning industrial transformation with the development and integration of additive manufacturing. Accordingly, the technology went on to become one of the region’s primary areas of financial investment in the high-tech sector.

"Since then, the importance of the technology has only grown. Beyond its value to the manufacturing industry, we’re now seeing clear applications in the energy sector – especially within energy production, which has grown significantly in relevance in recent years. This is closely linked to the broader industrial transition, where reliable access to energy is critical. In addition, today’s uncertain global landscape has brought attention to additive manufacturing from a resilience standpoint. We’re also seeing our own sectors – such as healthcare – increasingly begin to explore the potential of this production technology," says Staffan Lund.

And there is yet another area where additive manufacturing has recently come into focus.

“It’s about applications with both civilian and military relevance. As a manufacturing region, Västra Götaland plays an important role in this intersection. While we don’t have large-scale military production, the defence sector depends on manufacturing industries – and on new production methods. That could mean rapidly developing prototypes or restarting the production of components that haven’t been made in a long time. In these cases, additive manufacturing can play a significant role.”

"There is a need for a test and knowledge arena"

Region Västra Götaland has had a close collaboration with RISE for many years and has supported several projects aimed at making additive manufacturing more accessible and accelerating its implementation within industry. Two examples are 3D-Action 2.0 and COMPASS II, the latter of which was recently completed.

“Projects like these give companies the opportunity to more rapidly test new technologies and business models, build essential knowledge, and gain the confidence to invest. We support the Application Center for Additive Manufacturing because there is a need for a test and knowledge arena that lowers the threshold for small and medium-sized enterprises. This, in turn, strengthens competitiveness throughout the entire manufacturing chain – ultimately benefiting large companies as well. Sooner or later, cost calculations, sustainability benefits, and material factors will drive the entire manufacturing sector towards additive manufacturing. But it’s those who move first who gain the real competitive edge,” says Staffan Lund.

Encouraging more to take the leap

Staffan Lund acknowledges that there are still obstacles to overcome, such as the lack of industry standards and a shortage of competence. At the same time, he sees additive manufacturing as an inevitable part of the future manufacturing industry and encourages companies to adopt an AM mindset from the outset.

"When new technologies emerge, it’s easy to hold preconceived notions. That often prevents companies from embracing a shift – which in turn causes them to fall behind and lose competitiveness. When the technology is described simply as 3D printing, it’s hard to grasp just how advanced it really is, or to understand the breadth of possible applications. I believe a large part of traditional manufacturing will have been replaced by additive manufacturing within ten years. That’s why it’s vital for the entire value chain to start integrating an AM perspective early in the development process, and makes use of the opportunities already available to explore both the technology and future business models."

Carbon black is one of the world's most common chemicals. It is used in the production of rubber, plastics, paint and electronics to increase durability and improve conductivity.

Alternative methods of producing carbon black are needed

Carbon black is a fine powder formed during the incomplete combustion of organic materials, typically oil or natural gas. The annual production of carbon black exceeds 10 million tonnes, resulting in carbon dioxide emissions of between 30 and 80 million tonnes. Finding a sustainable alternative to produce carbon black would greatly help with the green transition. Carbon black is a product that is 99 per cent carbon atoms. 

”This means that, when creating renewable carbon black, we still need to start with a carbon source, but we must move away from fossil raw materials. It is not possible to replace the carbon source with electricity alone, as we do when using wind, water and solar energy to replace fossil fuels in the transport sector," explains Jonas Wennebro, a research engineer at RISE in Piteå.

The operating conditions for producing carbon black are very specific. For example, it is difficult to start with a solid material such as sawdust.

"Oil works better. In addition, oil is used in most larger production facilities today, so converting production by replacing fossil oil with biogenic oil is easier,” says Jonas Wennebro.

From forest residues to green carbon black

RISE was the first organisation in the world to produce carbon black from pyrolysis oil derived from waste products from the forestry industry. Pyrolysis is a chemical process in which organic material is broken down by heat in an oxygen-free environment created by a closed reactor. The material in the reactor does not burn, but instead breaks down into gas, liquid and solid carbon. The resulting liquid is known as biogenic pyrolysis oil and can be refined into carbon black.

”This oil differs significantly in its properties from fossil oil, so we conducted basic studies funded by Formas to look at different ways of treating it to make it more suitable as a carbon black raw material. By changing the operating temperatures and retention times in the processes, it is possible to obtain different qualities,” explains Jonas Wennebro.

The researchers began with small-scale trials before scaling up the work in 2022. The existing test and demonstration facility in Piteå was expanded to increase production capacity from grams to kilograms per hour.

”This pilot is designed to mimic a commercial process for manufacturing carbon black. The increase in capacity is necessary for testing different rubber compounds to assess wear resistance, for example. This cannot be achieved by analysing a gram of carbon black under a microscope,” says Jonas Wennebro.

Users and suppliers of carbon black involved

The research team is in dialogue with rubber manufacturers and global carbon black suppliers who are interested in the progress being made at RISE in this area. In turn, the business community can contribute industry-specific knowledge about carbon black.

"There is considerable interest from industry, and suppliers are demanding bio-based carbon black made from forest raw materials, which is obviously better for the climate than using fossil fuels. At the same time, however, the forest is needed for other products. We are therefore trying to develop the most efficient and economical method of producing carbon black, converting as many of the carbon atoms from the forest raw material as possible into carbon black."

There are also potential sustainability gains in the production process itself:

”It's about how we generate the heat required in the reactor. Currently, industry mainly uses natural gas for this, whereas we are working with electric heating. In our larger pilot, we aim to use a plasma burner instead of a natural gas burner. This is based on supplying electrical energy only from sources such as nuclear power, solar power, wind power and water power. This further reduces the climate footprint. This could also be seen as a way of binding some of the carbon added to the product, making it a kind of carbon sink. We have come a long way, and now it's a matter of demonstrating that our process works on an industrial scale,” says Jonas Wennebro.