Models are increasingly used to support decision-making for complex socio-technical problems, yet challenges remain to embed the use of such models into current decision-making practices.  

When it comes to waste-to-energy (WtE), different modelling approaches have been used to support decision-making in an applied manner with municipal actors and regional industries both in Sweden and globally regarding the role of WtE. The most applied methods are Life-Cycle-Assessment (LCA), cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). These are relatively static, providing a snapshot of waste management systems, generally at high-levels of detail.  
 
The WECoS project takes a different approach, using system dynamics simulation modelling. We focus on the integration between the energy system, WtE operations and high-level policy goals such as increased material reuse and net-zero targets.  

A key advantage is the ability to turn the modelling snapshot of commonly applied methods, into a “film”, uncovering the behavior over time of key variables and cause effect mechanisms driving simulated outcomes. System dynamics is implemented within a visual, object-oriented environment, increasing transparency of model assumptions, allowing for the creation of a shared representation of the WtE system and encouraging direct input from actors with influence, interest or that are affected by decisions. From a practical perspective, we seek to make the model and results useful as well as usable for our partners. 

From a research perspective, we investigate two novel aspects: 

1) Testing new approaches to delivering model results by creating custom dashboards and evaluating their effectiveness as a shared negotiation tool. 

2) Investigation of how to integrate behavioural elements in the modelled WtE system through choice modelling (revealed preference & stated preference approaches

More information about WECoS

• Read more here about WECoS:  MESAMS website. 
• Discover WECoS through our new Project Film. Link here.
• Recording of final seminar. Here you can watch the project's final seminar from March 27, 2026.

Access to WECoS deliverables 

• Project’s Model-Based Tool. How will future waste and energy systems in Helsingborg be affected by different decisions and uncertainties? The model-based tool enables stakeholders to collaboratively explore future scenarios, test interventions in real time during meetings, and compare how different assumptions influence outcomes such as emissions, energy production, and material recycling. By visualizing the effects of measures such as increased source separation or carbon capture and storage (CCS), the tool provides a concrete basis for discussions about possible development pathways and the uncertainties surrounding them. The tool was developed within the WECoS project through a participatory system dynamics modelling process in which municipalities, businesses, and other stakeholders contributed knowledge and perspectives. In this way, the tool not only supports the analysis of future alternatives but also fosters a shared understanding of how different parts of the system are interconnected and how decisions in one area can affect others. Click here to explore the project's model-based tool.
• Project report coming soon. Stay tunned! 

SULPHURREAL aimed to demonstrate and validate a breakthrough approach for next generation, carbon-free, direct conversion of solar energy into chemicals storable for a virtually unlimited time, based on elemental sulphur produced and consumed on-demand via an integrated solar-aided thermochemical cycle. The concept is a combination of three major process steps, namely the H₂SO₄ decomposition, SO₂ disproportionation and elemental sulphur combustion. The proposed combination integrates renewable energy sources (solar energy) with valorisation of non-CRM substances currently produced as industrial by-products from oil and gas (solid sulphur) and steel industries (Fe-containing slags) and industrial-scale chemicals production (sulphuric acid industry) in absolute accordance with a circular economy environment and industrial symbiosis.

RISE leads the work package with system integration, conducting life cycle assessment, and hazard and operability analysis (HAZOP) to provide input regarding environmental aspects and risks and safety in the development phase.

Hybrid energy systems (hybrid systems) with renewable electricity production have the potential to address challenges related to increasingly intermittent electricity production. By combining several technologies within the same system, energy production can become more robust and profitable.

Some examples of renewable hybrid systems are:

• Wind power, solar power, and/or hydropower within the same grid connection
• Renewable electricity production complemented with battery storage, hydrogen production (electrolysis), and/or other electricity-consuming technologies
• Off-grid energy systems with various technologies

Hybrid systems have the potential to connect more electricity production to a grid with lower capacity than the installed power and provide more consistent electricity delivery. Hydrogen production can diversify the energy system, producing electricity or hydrogen depending on demand and price, and increase energy security. At the same time, system services can be offered to the balancing market through potentially all units in the hybrid system.

Hybrid systems need to be optimized and controlled based on the current situation in the power grid, the demand for energy carriers or other external factors. We offer you an analysis of your proposed hybrid system to give you a deeper understanding of your specific issues.

Our services

• Techno-economic analysis and system perspective for the establishment of hybrid systems
• Analysis, sizing, and optimization of hybrid systems
• Development and consulting regarding system services for the electricity grid
• Development of flexibility solutions
• Risk analysis of the system
• General expert support in economics, technology, and regulations 

För en framtida fossilfri elproduktion för en hållbar elförsörjning behöver hela värdekedjan inom förnybar energi bli hållbar. Forskningsmedel har satsats på utveckling av förnybar energi inom vind och sol, däremot finns det kunskapsluckor inom hantering av dessa energikällor efter deras tekniska livslängd. Detta fastställdes i RiR 2023:11, och slutsatsen var att det saknas underlag för att utveckla lämpliga styrmedel, och mer resurser behövs för att bygga upp ett fungerade avfallssystem för dessa strukturer. Granskningen av hur blad och solcellspaneler hanteras i dagens system visar på stora brister i existerande lagstiftning.

Uttjänta blad slutar sitt liv i energiåtervinning via förbränning eller på deponi, trots att detta står i kontrast till intentionen bakom existerande lagstiftning. Idag klassas blad (som inte är farligt avfall) som bygg- och rivningsavfall. Då lagstiftningen nyligen skärpts med insamlings- och sorteringskrav för återvinning borde det vara möjligt att förhindra att blad går till förbränning och/eller deponi. Det råder samtidigt deponiförbud för produkter med mer än 10 procent organiskt material. Då bladen innehåller ca 30 procent plast innebär det att de egentligen inte får deponeras i Sverige.

Då installation av vindkraft tog fart under 1990-talet och med en förväntad livslängd på 20–25 år förväntas volymen vindturbinblad som avvecklas öka kraftigt från år 2030. Därför finns ett stort behov av nya resurseffektiva lösningar inom avfallshierarkin. Då deponi och förbränning idag har en relativt låg kostnad (2–4 tkr/ton) har nyare lösningar för materialåtervinning svårt att konkurrera. För att stimulera denna värdekedja behövs nya styrmedel och incitament för att möjliggöra för aktörer med en mer hållbar materialåtervinning av uttjänta blad.

Solcellspaneler avvecklas ännu i låga volymer (17 ton under 2021). Efter år 2045 väntas dock en kraftig ökning p.g.a. dagens ökande utbyggnadstakt, och panelernas tekniska livslängd. Panelerna faller under producentansvar för insamling av el-utrustning (WEEE-direktivet ) och behandlas tillsammans med annat el-avfall. Metaller (aluminium, silver, koppar) och till viss del plast har materialåtervunnits men kisel och glas som är solcellspanelernas huvudkomponenter går inte att återvinna i dagens återvinningssystem. Det råder, enligt vad som framkommer i RiR 2023:11, dock en otydlighet i dagens lagstiftning huruvida alla solcellspaneler omfattas av producentansvaret för el-utrustning eller inte (storskaliga fasta installationer är undantagna). Detta medför att större företagsanläggningar och stora solcellsparker riskerar att falla utanför regelverket. Dessa tvetydigheter behöver beaktas och hanteras i ljuset av den tekniska utvecklingen och styrmedel bör anpassas till de stora väntande avfallsvolymerna. IEA PVPS Task 12 har också publicerat statusrapporter för återvinning av solcellspaneler i olika länder och bedömt att cirkulära åtgärder som reparation är miljömässigt fördelaktiga men ekonomiskt svårare att motivera med dagens typiska marknadsförutsättningar. Riktade policyändringar skulle kunna förbättra förutsättningarna för sådana resurseffektiva åtgärder.

För att säkerställa ett framtida cirkulärt omhändertagande och förhindra förbränning och deponi av vindturbinblad och solcellspaneler finns ett stort behov av att påverka framtida styrmedel och policys mot en cirkulär hantering. Hur dagens blad och solcellspaneler hanteras är detaljerat beskrivet i RiR 2023:11. Detta projekt bidrar därför till dessa områden: 

1. Kunskap, kompetens och lösningar för att förbättra elsystemets ekologiska hållbarhet och resurseffektivitet. Resurseffektiva lösningar för cirkulär hantering av blad och solcellspaneler behöver utvecklas för att stimulera nya aktörer till att utveckla system för materialåtervinning samt att förhindra felaktig hantering av avfallet 

2. Kunskap om hur cirkulära flöden kan bidra till ett hållbart elsystem har ökat. Tekniskt godkända nedmonterade blad och solcellspaneler kan ingå i återanvändningsloopar och därmed bidra till ökad cirkularitet. Eftersom det saknas tillräckliga incitament och styrmedel väljs den idag enklaste och minst kostsamma lösningen, dvs förbränning och deponi. 

3. Kostnader och resurseffektivitet under ett kraftverks hela livscykel, anpassning av regelverk, samt återvinning. Dagens regelverk för hantering av vindturbinblad och solcellspaneler har granskats i RiR 2023:11. De konstaterar att brister finns i styrningen; därför måste dagens styrmedel utvecklas för att stimulera etablering av en cirkulär återvinning av vindturbinblad och solcellspaneler. 

Genom att utveckla ny kompetens inom cirkulär hantering av solcellspaneler och vindturbinblad, bidrar vi till stärkt konkurrenskraft inom elsektorn vilket kommer kunna bidra till att nya innovativa cirkulära hanteringslösningar utvecklas, vilket i förlängningen kan leda till att Sverige kan bli ett föregångsland inom EU.

Objectives 

The main objective of WECHULL+ is to demonstrate (TRL4-6) a new, sustainable, circular and reliable concrete material suitable for floating substructures in the offshore renewable energy sector; to model, test and validate it in the real ocean environment. WECHULL+ objectives and activities are based upon the learnings and proof-of-concept (TRL4) of a new sustainable concrete mix with high-performance in marine environment, carried out within the WECHULL project (TRL4). WECHULL+ takes these efforts to a European level, where experts in the field of material sciences, predictive modelling, field testing, critical loads assessment, biofouling, technology development, extreme load analysis, social sciences and environmental impact assessment, are brought together to validate and verify the WECHULL+ concrete material and its real application through sample ant prototype testing (lab and ocean).

Challenges addressed

The traditionally used steel is expensive and prone to corrosion in the harsh marine environment. Composites price are even higher than steel, are fossil-fuel based, their manufacturing is characterized with high environmental impacts and they still lack data on long-term performance in sea water. Therefore, the blue energy sector is currently looking into concrete. Concrete is an inexpensive (in the range of 100 EUR/ton – 30 times lower than steel and 50 times lower than carbon fibre reinforced composites), marine environment resistant, and easy and fast to fabricate on-site (casting) rather than the traditional alternative to traditional manufacturing material. Concrete, the most used material in the world after water, is also a material with a mature value chain which enables using local production worldwide. This is a particular advantage for Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) installations, often planned in specific sites due to favourable ocean conditions, far from the main supply chains, or being close to islands without connections to the continental energy network. 

Despite its long history, concrete technology is still active and growing area of research and industry. The continuous progress is created by designing new mixes, replacing binders and aggregates with alternative ingredients and/or adding dedicated chemical modifiers. Also, concrete is responsible of 6% of all the CO₂ footprint worldwide. The main contributor to CO₂ of concrete is cement. By using climate-optimized concrete material (including waste and recycled materials as well as alternative bio binders) can greatly reduce concrete CO₂ footprint on the material level. 

Results and impact expected 

The expected outcome of WECHULL+ material development is to design a set of mixes based on local raw materials, improve circularity of the material and confirm its reliability in different climate zones in Europe. The WECHULL+ material and modelling solutions will be possible to apply in all types of floating substructures for offshore renewables energies but also for other users such as and aquaculture. The high-strength concrete achieves 70 % of its final strength after 24 hours, which enables demoulding and towing to the installation site almost immediately after manufacturing. Maintenance of WECs contributes to up to 30 % of OPEX and therefore, is one of the largest factors to reduce LCOE. The WECHULL+ project supports the offshore renewable energy transition by supplying the industry with: 

• New robust (>100 MPa in compressive strength, self-damping, noncorrosive and antifouling properties) and 
• Sustainable materials with 70% less carbon footprint then steel 
• Lower the manufacturing time to be below 5 days 
• Supports local manufacturing and local supply chains
• Lower the overall LCOE by 25%

Project website

www.wechull.se

In Alkmaar's "Renewable Energy Valley," a diverse mix of more than 300 businesses and 3,000 households is currently connected to a shared energy grid. This supply system not only enables the community to produce and use their own renewable energy, but also to store and share it, to mitigate potential energy imbalances and cover the energy demand. This is made possible by advanced and smart energy management, focused on the diversification and valorization of sustainable energy sources.

The REFORMERS’ project goal is to diversify renewable energy supplies and maximise efficiency. By ramping up green energy production through the combination of consolidated technological solutions with the most innovative energy management systems, the Energy Valley shall be able to cover more than 100% of its energy demand through local renewable energy production and reach 75% of self-consumption through demand side management by the end of the project. Finally, this should lead to lower energy costs for end customers, compared to current and forecasted market prices. 

The REFORMERS’ research team will develop, test, and exploit a toolbox and a digital twin to identify the best solutions and constantly improve towards self-sustaining Energy Valleys. The ambition is to completely replace fossil fuel use from residential customers by delivering heat produced from bio-waste and heat recovery. Together with green-hydrogen, wind, solar and bio-waste energy production, the project will help hit Alkmaar’s 100% renewable energy target by 2050. The developments within the Dutch Flagship Valley will be meticulously followed by six satellite valleys spread around Europe. These valleys will take advantage of the lessons learned and replicate successful strategies to create their own Renewable Energy Valley and contribute altogether to the #REPowerEU goals.

RISE will lead a workpackage on how to replicate the solutions developed and tested in the project to other cities and regions in Europe.