How Sweco can contribute to the renewable energy targets of REPowerEU
Published on: December 2, 2022
Supporting the plan to fast-track Europe’s energy transition
Sweco consultants’ advisory expertise in energy solutions covers many of the key areas addressed in the European Commission’s REPowerEU action plan: from power generation, energy efficiency and the diversification of energy supplies, to how implementing environmental measures can help society achieve an accelerated roll out of renewable energy to replace fossil fuels in homes, industry, and transportation.
What is the REPowerEU Plan?
Launched in May 2022 with the aim of achieving energy independence from Russian fossil fuels and tackling the climate crisis, REPowerEU: the Joint European Action, is a plan targeting actions for the transition to more affordable, secure and sustainable energy.
“Sweco is uniquely positioned to contribute to an accelerated energy transition,” says Conny Udd, Division Manager for Energy and Industry, Sweco.
The REPowerEU action plan highlights the critical necessity of saving energy, producing clean energy and diversifying Europe’s energy supplies. It’s backed by financial and legal measures for building the new energy infrastructure and system that will offer Europe the energy independence that it is seeking.
Becoming fossil free
By developing renewable energy sources and offering significant scale-up and acceleration of renewable energy in power production, industry, buildings, and transportation Europe’s citizens will benefit in numerous ways, not least in energy price reductions. In 2022, energy prices climbed to historic levels and EU governments are looking for ways to assist households in the short-, mid- and long-term, as they face shock increases in prices to power and warm their homes.
Becoming fossil free is important for member countries in the EU, and the energy sector is conducting an increasing number of innovative projects where Sweco consultants are contributing with their long expertise and solutions, Conny Udd says.
REPowerEU is focused on answers to the question: How will Europe replace Russian gas? In the mid-to- long term there are a number of projects included in REPowerEU ‘s plan including initiatives such as: the EU Solar Strategy to double solar power capacity by 2025 (which includes the Solar Rooftop Initiative that will make obligatory the installation of solar panels on top of new buildings), doubling of heat pump deployment in heating systems, increasing the production and imports of hydrogen by 2030 to replace natural gas, and the Biomethane Action Plan to increase biomethane production to 35bcm by 2030.
“Sweco works with all areas of energy. We have both completed and continue to have ongoing assignments with all the major energy suppliers across Europe, and have built up a solid, international level of competence across the energy field,” explains Conny Udd.
Hydrogen energy
Hydrogen is considered to be one key in strengthening energy independency and security in the EU. It’s also an area where Sweco is especially well-prepared to assist clients through hydrogen services including research and development, financial and strategic advisory services, engineering and consultancy, energy systems analysis, safety and permits. Sweco’s engineers, energy and industrial experts contribute to the sustainable transformation in hydrogen projects throughout Europe, with recognised expertise in the field of hydrogen, and experts tackling all aspects of hydrogen’s value chain.
The world’s first energy island and a pilot floating solar technology project
Renewable energy and hydrogen are just a few areas where Sweco is leading in the energy transition. Sweco is involved in the historic work of building an artificial energy island approximately 100 kilometres off the west coast of Denmark in the North Sea. The energy island is being constructed for the large-scale production of offshore wind power and will produce enough renewable energy to meet the needs of around three million households in the first stage, with later expansion planned for 10 million households. More than 200 Sweco experts representing 11 different professional competency areas from six countries, will be involved in the assignment over the next nine years. “Most projects aren’t as big as the Energy Island, but they are still interesting from an engineering and client perspective,” Conny Udd notes.
Export operation projects in over 70 countries
Sweco works with energy projects in many parts of the world. “One of our strengths is that we have cutting-edge expertise in a variety of areas in different countries. We have export operation projects in over 70 countries around the world and we can contribute with our knowledge, including through our networks, where we can connect different actors to enable new solutions,” Conny Udd explains.
Recent Sweco export projects include the streamlining of hydropower plants in Tanzania and Mozambique, and the expansion of the electricity networks in Zambia.
ReSolar: floating solar photovoltaic plant, FPV
A project collaborating to develop floating solar technology at hydroelectric dams in Uganda, where Sweco partners include two EU-based consultancy companies: as well as Ugandan subcontractors, has gained significant interest.
“The pilot floating solar photovoltaic plant, FPV will be placed on a dam reservoir connected to one of the country’s hydroelectric plants. From a hydropower perspective this is very exciting: the possibilities to expand the electrical grid by adding more energy producers are promising. The infrastructure is there, so if you can expand the existing energy plans with these types of innovative projects you are finding even more ways to contribute to the green transition,” he says.
Energy transition expertise and solutions
Other areas where Sweco can offer energy transition solutions include electrical transmission and distribution nets, district heating transmission and distribution nets as well as within energy production areas such as the hydropower and nuclear sectors, and on- and offshore wind power, and solar farms.
“Sweco consultants are able to co-create solutions with clients from greenfield site development all the way to up and running transmission and distribution nets, dams, turbines, generations and buildings,” Conny Udd explains.
REPowerEU has proposed measures to address the somewhat lengthy and complex administrative procedures that are a hinder to the speed and scale of investment in renewables and related infrastructure that is needed.
“To be a sustainable society you need to increase electrification, or else, in the future we won’t reach the common environmental goals that we have. Sweco can help clients with the process to get permits and environmental assessments in place and to increase the speed to reach goals on the international level, in order to get more fossil-free energy production in place. We can contribute with our knowledge and networks in this energy transition which is already underway,” he says.
