By Anne Immonen, VTT Oulu consumers are increasingly aware of energy prices and their own energy consumption. VTT’s recent survey shows that energy consumption patterns are moving in a good direction and that as many as 86% of Oulu residents pay more attention to their energy consumption. Environmental issues also have a greater significance for…
By Anne Immonen, VTT
Oulu consumers are increasingly aware of energy prices and their own energy consumption. VTT’s recent survey shows that energy consumption patterns are moving in a good direction and that as many as 86% of Oulu residents pay more attention to their energy consumption. Environmental issues also have a greater significance for Oulu residents than before.
As part of the Making City project, VTT surveyed Oulu residents’ energy awareness and energy consumption behaviour. This report is a follow-up for a survey carried out in 2021. The comparison of results provides information on changes in energy awareness and consumption patterns over the past two years.
According to the survey, Oulu has a good level of awareness of energy prices and consumption. Of the respondents, 83% were aware of energy prices, and 82% of the energy costs of their own household. There has been an improvement from the situation two years ago: in 2021, approximately 28% of the respondents did not know the amount of their own consumption, and now the corresponding figure was 19%.
“Significant changes in the energy market and the corresponding changes in pricing have clearly increased consumer interest in energy issues. Of the respondents, 55% reported a significant increase in their energy costs, and 86% had paid more attention to their own energy consumption. The survey was conducted at a time when the price of electricity was at its peak and it was difficult to anticipate price development. Of the respondents, 43% said that they were concerned about how they can get by financially,” says Anne Immonen, Senior Scientist at VTT.
Energy consumption patterns had changed significantly over the past two years. For example, 76% of the respondents now try to keep room temperature reasonable, whereas the corresponding figure in the previous survey was 51%. Of the respondents, 71% restrict their use of warm water instead of 58%. In general, energy is used sensibly in Oulu homes.
The respondents were fairly willing to reduce their energy consumption. The most central motive was saving money, but energy conservation and emission reductions were also considered important. Of the respondents, 36% paid slightly more for environmentally friendly energy, whereas in the previous survey 27% said they were ready to do that.
A large number of respondents were now prepared to change their activities in order to save energy and the environment: for example, 63% would be prepared to rationalise their daily energy consumption at home. Of the respondents, 57% would be prepared to use a service to conserve energy, whereas only 14% were ready to do the same two years ago. For example, energy companies provide consumers with smart services that target consumption to the hours when electricity is at its cheapest. Based on the survey, demand for these services seems to be increasing.
“There has been a major change in attitudes and an increasing need for an open dialogue on energy issues. For example, the dialogue on the price and availability of electricity has become considerably livelier, most apparently due to the increase in prices. The desire for advice on how to change your own energy consumption has also increased,” says Samuli Rinne, Project Manager of the City of Oulu.
The respondents themselves estimated that their energy awareness and consumption patterns have changed in recent years. Approximately four out of five respondents (81%) felt that their energy awareness had improved, and about two thirds (66%) said that they had reduced their energy consumption. Of the respondents, 67% felt that they understood the impacts of their choices on the environment better than before, and 63% now cared more about the environment than 3 years ago.
The report is part of the Making City research project, which includes VTT, the City of Oulu, the University of Oulu, Arina, Sivakka, YIT, Oulun Energia and Jetitek as participants from Oulu. The consumer survey was conducted online in January–February 2023, and a total of 596 people responded to it. The results were compared to a similar survey carried out in the project in 2021, to which 378 people responded.
This article was produced by VTT. You can read the original here.
To join the Arctic Business Journal network as a content partner, contact us at [email protected].
In Svenskt Näringsliv’s annual assessment of the municipalities’ summarized business climate, Boden maintains its position as the top in Norrbotten. This is in spite of the ongoing societal transition and all the challenges that come with it.
By Bodenxt
In Svenskt Näringsliv’s annual assessment of the municipalities’ summarized business climate, Boden maintains its position as the top in Norrbotten. This is in spite of the ongoing societal transition and all the challenges that come with it.
For several years, the municipality of Boden has worked strategically to strengthen and develop long-term cooperation with Boden’s entrepreneurs and the local business community. The result is that Boden still ranks highest among Norrbotten’s 14 municipalities, followed by Överkalix.
Every year, Svenskt Näringsliv measures more than 30,000 companies’ experiences of running a business in their municipalities. The survey responses provide a picture of how the business environment is perceived by businesses. The answers are then combined with five statistical factors to produce a ranking that allows comparison of Sweden’s 290 municipalities. The final ranking will be presented later this fall.
Boden has been climbing steadily in recent years and this year maintained its overall value of 4.1. The national average is 3.5 and Norrbotten’s 3.1.
“The pressure is now gradually increasing on us in Boden regarding H2 Green Steel’s establishment. It is therefore extremely gratifying that we still manage to maintain such a high level in our ongoing work linked to our local business community. An attractive and well-functioning business environment is a very important success factor in the ongoing green transition. And we can and will always improve,” says Claes Nordmark, municipal councillor.
In terms of authorization, supervision and control, Boden is well above Sweden’s figures. It’s about how easy the municipality is to get in touch with, reasonable processing times, advice, guidance and understanding.
It is also clear that housing and skills provision are key priorities. The majority believe that education and training in Boden matches skills needs. This view is almost twice as high in Boden compared to the national average. The survey’s value for municipal procurement in Boden has been above the national average since 2017 and this year is the highest ever.
“I see the fact that we manage to maintain the same position and NKI value (4.1) as a sign of strength for us as an organization and in our relationship with our local business community. We will build on the trust capital we have created over time and constantly seek to improve it. The next few years will be extremely exciting but also challenging, and we want our local entrepreneurs to be part of this journey,” says Mats Berg, Head of Business Development.
The current figures will now be matched with internal surveys and plans to further enhance Boden as a business-friendly municipality.
Text and photo: KOMM/Boden municipality
This article was produced by Bodenxt. You can read the original here.
To join the Arctic Business Journal network as a content partner, contact us at [email protected].
Russia no longer has a European market for its pipeline gas, and Moscow is grappling with what to do with the abundant energy that now is “stuck” in the Arctic.
Big natural gas projects have been built in Yamal over the past decade. The far northern peninsula that stretches into the Arctic Ocean has vast reserves, and thousands of kilometres of pipeline have been built to connect the area with markets in Europe.
But following its full-scale onslaught on Ukraine, sanctions have put a halt to the gas flows.
Russia no longer has a European market for its pipeline gas, and Moscow is grappling with what to do with the abundant energy that now is “stuck” in the Arctic.
In a government meeting this week, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin summoned key ministers to discuss what he sees as prospective way to use the excessive gas – the development of petrochemical industry.
According to a document, a so-called roadmap approved by government on the 16th of May, a major development of new petrochemical plants is outlined, and the Yamal Peninsula is a key priority region.
“On the instruction of the Head of State, the government is expanding its support for the development of petrochemical clusters in the Arctic zone, in the immediate vicinity to the resource base,” Mishustin says in a comment.
“This decision will have a multiplicative effect on a whole range of related industries and will help trigger long-term economic growth,” he underlines.
Mishustin and his government is in a hurry. Already by the end of 2023, key measures in the roadmap are to be executed. By July 2024, a more comprehensive plan for the development of petrochemical industry in Yamal is to be presented. And by year 2025, Russia’s production of polymeric materials is to be increased by more than 30 percent to 9,9 million tons.
The presentation of the new industrial plans in Yamal came immediately ahead of PM Mishustin’s visit to China. It is quite likely that Chinese companies will play an important role in the upcoming projects.
The two countries’ energy partnership was high on the agenda as the Russian premier sat down for talks with his Chinese counterpart. That includes also the development of petrochemical industry, Mishustin said in a business forum in Shanghai.
Located in Kirkenes, Norway, just a few kilometers from the borders to Russia and Finland, the Barents Observer is dedicated to cross-border journalism in Scandinavia, Russia, and the wider Arctic.
As a non-profit stock company that is fully owned by its reporters, its editorial decisions are free of regional, national, or private-sector influence. It has been a partner to ABJ and its predecessors since 2016.
You can read the original here.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. But show an Artificial Intelligence (AI) a fish and it can tell you its age, origin, how its condition will impact price, and what you can do to maximize its profitability.
By Elías Thorsson
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. But show an Artificial Intelligence (AI) a fish and it can tell you its age, origin, how its condition will impact price, and what you can do to maximize its profitability.
In recent decades, a number of exciting hi-tech businesses and startups have sprung up around the Icelandic fishing industry, and among the more exciting developments in the field is the emergence of AI.
Marel is Iceland’s biggest food processing company with around 6,000 employees in around 30 countries. It was founded in 1983 by a group of young engineers who noticed that the fishing industry needed a reliable machine to weigh fish. Back then computers were beginning their conquest of all industries and forty years later we are knocking on the next door in computer utilization.
Ólafur Karl Sigurðarson, Executive Vice President of Marel Fish, has been involved in steering Marel into the AI age and he explains that it has already proven itself an apt pupil capable of improving profitability and efficiency.
“To give an example, we have been using AI for image analysis to very good effect. Many of the tasks once performed by humans now require computer vision to allow us to adjust processing machines to account for size, shape, etc.,” says Mr Sigurðarson.
“Another example would be the robots used to transport raw produce, these need computer vision to perform their function.”
Automation in industry pre-dates even Henry Ford and his multicolored Model-T in black, but there have always been jobs that require a person with judgment and critical thinking skills to perform. However, the emergence of AI and deep learning is causing a shift in this paradigm.
“Almost all food processing jobs that haven’t been automated already require AI. The challenge is to develop reliable and cost efficient solutions,” says Mr Sigurðarson.
“The technology is necessary for the creation of good quality control systems and to minimize the use of resources such as electricity and water.”
Maritech is one of the leading providers of software for the global fishing industry and in recent years the company has been developing a hyperspectral imaging camera that is already being used by some of Iceland’s biggest fishing companies. The camera allows us to peak beyond the scales and provides an AI with a variety of metrics that help with quality control and pricing.
“The camera provides us with images that capture spectrums not visible to the naked eye. We then teach the computer to recognize parameters that dictate quality and to recognize anomalies that can impact value. Such as worms, blood buildup, damages etc.,” explains Konráð Olavsson, Maritech’s Country Manager for Iceland.
“This information helps determine how best to process the product, but equally helps buyers determine the true value of the fish.”
The AI can quickly and reliably deliver data that turns the skills and knowledge possessed by only the most seasoned sailors and fishmongers into science. The information gathered can also help authorities determine the health of fish stocks and set fishing quotas. The technology and its applications develop day-by-day and as Olavsson explains “the opportunities seem endless.”
Despite the rich bounty of the North Atlantic surrounding Iceland, there is only so much fish that can be caught. The exporting of new technologies that service the fishing industry, however, seems almost limitless. Mr Sigurðarson says we could call Iceland a Silicon Valley of the sea and perhaps it is no coincidence that San Francisco started out as one of the US’ largest harbors.
“The industry has so many exciting projects in the works and I think it is fair to say that Iceland, Norway and the Faroe Islands have the most technologically developed fishing industries in the world. Stepping into a processing plant here is like getting onboard a spaceship compared to many other countries,” says Mr Olavsson.
With the fourth industrialization ramming into Iceland’s most valuable industry, we’ve only started to skim the surface of the opportunities that lie beneath. It doesn’t seem too far-fetched that in the near future, the entire fishing fleet will be controlled by Captain Hal-I-but.
FURTHER READING
• 🇳🇴 KSAT shares its expertise on IUU fishing detection at GLOC 2023
• 🇮🇸 Iceland fishing catch up 23%
• 🇳🇴 Probotic Secures Patent for Autonomous Fish Farm Cleaning System
• 🇳🇴 Probotic Successfully Completes Project on Biological Impact of Net Cleaning
• 🇳🇴 Brand-new industry potential in western Finnmark
• 🏴 🇺🇸 To protect orcas, federal judge orders closure of iconic Southeast Alaska troll fishery
• 🇳🇴 Fisheries: EU and Norway strengthen cooperation for sustainable fishing in the Northeast Arctic
• 🇮🇸 🇬🇧 A Taste of Seaweed
Elías Thorsson is a journalist, writer, and marketing specialist with extensive experience covering business and technology affairs in Iceland.
Members of Chugach Electric Association, the Anchorage-based cooperative utility that generates nearly half of urban Alaska’s power, rejected one incumbent and elected two new board members who campaigned on an aggressive shift toward renewable energy in an election that ended Friday.
Friday’s election of Susanne Fleek-Green and Jim Nordlund, who ran on “clean energy,” marked a significant shift. But the results weren’t a wholesale rejection of Chugach Electric’s incumbent board.
Members of Chugach Electric Association, the Anchorage-based cooperative utility that generates nearly half of urban Alaska’s power, rejected one incumbent and elected two new board members who campaigned on an aggressive shift toward renewable energy in an election that ended Friday.
The election of challengers Susanne Fleek-Green and Jim Nordlund, who campaigned as “clean energy candidates,” marks a significant shift in Chugach’s seven-member board. It comes as activists push the utility to more quickly integrate renewable power sources, amid warnings of an impending crunch in local natural gas supplies.
But Friday’s results were not a wholesale rejection of the existing board: Members also re-elected Chugach’s current board chair, Bettina Chastain. Chastain, with 6,258 votes, barely edged a third candidate, Shaina Kilcoyne, who allied with Fleek-Green and Nordlund and received 6,002 votes.
Harold Hollis, the other incumbent up for re-election, received 4,944 votes.
Fleek-Green, a national park superintendent who once managed the re-election campaign of Democratic former U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, received 6,725 votes.
Nordlund, who has previously held a Chugach board seat and also once served in the state House as a Democrat, received 6,417 votes, and he and Fleek-Green will serve four-year terms.
Chastain, an executive and engineering consultant, will serve two years to finish the term of a former board member who left before she was up for re-election.
This year’s elections are the first since urban Alaska’s major natural gas provider, Hilcorp, cautioned that it may not be able to keep supplying fuel at the same rate when current utility contracts expire over the next decade.
That warning has prompted a fierce debate about how much renewable power sources could fill the resulting gaps, and whether Chugach and other utilities will need to sign contracts to import liquefied natural gas. And that debate fueled an unusually intense Chugach board election this year.
Member turnout, at nearly 16%, or 14,156 votes, was one-third higher than last year’s 11.8%.
Fleek-Green and Kilcoyne went door to door in search of votes, climate activists made phone calls to Chugach members and candidates made the rounds on talk radio shows.
The results tilted in favor of the clean energy candidates, all three of whom endorsed a bill in the Alaska Legislature that would require the state’s urban utilities to produce 80% of their power from renewable sources by 2040.
“I think the turnout shows members want to be engaged with the direction and big decisions facing Chugach. Members appreciated the personal phone calls and face to face conversations,” Fleek-Green said in a text message. “Also, they do want Chugach and Southcentral Alaska to more aggressively adopt renewable energy sources.”
Chastain touted Chugach’s existing, non-binding goals to reduce its carbon emissions by 50% by 2040.
But she and two other candidates she ran with as part of the “Chugach Stability” ticket — Brad Authier and Hollis — opposed the renewable energy mandate, warning that it could cause electricity prices to rise.
Authier received 4,056 votes.
Fleek-Green and Nordlund were immediately sworn in late Friday after the election results were announced. The board is expected to elect a new chair at a meeting next week.
Northern Journal is a Anchorage-based newsletter. This story is free for Alaska news outlets to republish through a partnership with the Alaska Beacon. You can read the original here.
This edition of Northern Journal is sponsored by The Boardroom, a shared workspace in Anchorage. Check out membership options here.
SK ecoplant will buy a 20 per cent stake in the US$4.5 billion ‘Nujio’qonik’ project, a global super-large green hydrogen and ammonia commercialization project in the eastern province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
By Misha Radkevitch
SK ecoplant, the environment and energy arm of SK Group, one of the world’s largest sustainable infrastructure companies, has recently announced a significant investment of US$50 million in Newfoundland and Labrador. The South Korean company will buy a 20 per cent stake in the US$4.5 billion ‘Nujio’qonik‘ project, a global super-large green hydrogen and ammonia commercialization project in the eastern province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
This strategic move aims to accelerate the transition to clean energy and contribute to global efforts in combating climate change. The project’s boost in funding aligns with the growing interest in green hydrogen as a viable and sustainable energy source and the implications of this strategic investment open up new horizons of possibilities in the region.
Green hydrogen is a renewable, zero-emission fuel that holds immense potential as a clean and sustainable energy source. It is produced through the electrolysis of water and powered by renewable energy; Project Nujio’qonik will utilize wind power to produce the required electricity. Green ammonia is then produced by synthesizing green hydrogen with nitrogen. Unlike hydrogen itself, which is difficult to transport and store, green ammonia is suitable for transportation around the world, and can then be converted back into hydrogen to be used as energy.
This energy circulation system of the carbon-neutral era, and the green hydrogen value chain built by SK ecoplant, will soon become a reality according to a statement by the firm. Kyung-il Park, CEO of SK ecoplant, says the investment in Project Nujio’qonik is a step toward launching the international green hydrogen industry:
“Newfoundland and Labrador is positioned to launch this industry in Canada and to be amongst the very few first-mover commercial producers of scale world-wide.”
“Project Nujio’qonik has world-class wind, abundant fresh water, a deep-sea port with close proximity to Europe, strong First Nations and community support, and support at all levels of government. Our investment in this project is a step toward producing first green hydrogen and ammonia in 2025 and taking a leadership position in the fight against climate change.”
Kyung-il Park, who last month assumed the role of Chairman of the Korea Wind Energy Industry Association, also added:
“As the first Korean company to participate in an intercontinental green hydrogen commercialization project, we have a competitive advantage and see more future business opportunities.”
“SK ecoplant’s rapid execution ability and extensive experience will help us become a prominent leader in the global green hydrogen and green ammonia market in the future.”
Sean Leet, Managing Director and CEO of World Energy GH2, commented on the collaboration with SK ecoplant:
“This is an international company that can do business anywhere in the world,” said Leet. “Not only did they choose Canada, they chose our home, Newfoundland and Labrador, and they chose Project Nujio’qonik. SK ecoplant recognizes the benefits, advancement, and sophistication of this project, and we look forward to a prosperous partnership.”
“We are incredibly proud of all of our stakeholders, including our First Nations and community partners, who have been instrumental in attracting SK ecoplant’s investment in our project,” said Leet. “We welcome our new investment partners to Project Nujio’qonik, and we look forward to developing a world-class green energy project together.”
Project Nujio’qonik is a three-stage project on the west coast of Newfoundland and Labrador in St George’s Bay, overseen by World Energy GH2.
The three-phase development plan is laid out as such:
Video introducing the Nujio’qonik project (Source: World Energy GH2 YouTube channel)
The prevalence of wind energy in this location is the primary draw for investment and is reflected in the project name, Nujio’qonik, which is the Mi’kmaw name for St. George’s Bay; pronounced ‘new-geo-ho-neek’, it means ‘where the sand blows’. The image below shows the abundance of wind energy at disposal in the project area.
Moreover, the project area has deep-water marine facilities that are uniquely suited to hydrogen production and offloading; this includes access to industrial water for hydrogen production and harbour facilities that are available for construction, operations and shipping. Usefully, SK ecoplant’s subsidiary, SK oceanplant, is a globally recognized top-tier company specializing in substructures for offshore wind power installation. Additionally, interconnection to the existing grid allows for mutually beneficial, seasonable exchange of green energy and provides a potential opportunity to support NL Hydro’s export commitments in the sale of green energy.
This investment is SK ecoplant’s first investment in a wind-to-green hydrogen project globally and is a clear indicator that Newfoundland and Labrador is rapidly taking centre stage in the clean energy industry.
John Risley, Chairman of World Energy GH2, echoed this belief and insisted that the investment is validation that World Energy GH2 has all of the requirements for a successful project:
“Just nine months after the signing of the Canada – Germany Hydrogen Alliance by Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau and German Chancellor Scholz in Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador, trade and export discussions continue to advance between Canada and Germany. This investment from SK ecoplant reflects confidence in the alliance, and also reflects the speed at which this new critical industry is moving.”
Moreover, he highlighted the Government of Canada’s role in creating a “financial climate that is attracting investments of scale.”
“Our country’s robust response to the US Inflation Reduction Act, including the Canada Growth Fund, Investment Tax Credits and Contracts for Difference, are innovative ways Canada is implementing to stand up an industry that can compete globally.”
According to industry reports, the global green hydrogen market is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years; by 2026, the market is projected to reach a value of $11.7 billion. This investment by SK ecoplant positions them at the forefront of this emerging market, providing them with a competitive advantage and positioning Newfoundland as a key player in the green hydrogen sector.
More generally, investments in green hydrogen projects have the potential to drive economic growth and create job opportunities. A study estimates that the development of the hydrogen sector could create up to 350,000 jobs in Canada by 2050. Additionally, the increased adoption of green hydrogen can contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, supporting Canada’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, attended celebrations of the signing ceremony at Lotte Hotel in Seoul, South Korea and stated:
“This announcement clearly demonstrates Canada’s ability to attract foreign investment and grow a cleaner economy.”
“It is no longer ‘why Canada,’ it is ‘how Canada.’ I am happy to see companies, like SK ecoplant, answer our call for bold projects that build on Canada’s expertise to set up a world-leading hydrogen industry.”
SK ecoplant’s investment in the green hydrogen project in Newfoundland marks a significant step towards a more sustainable future. By embracing green hydrogen, Newfoundland has the opportunity to become a key player in the growing global market and drive economic growth while reducing carbon emissions. The potential benefits of green hydrogen are far-reaching, providing clean energy solutions, job creation, and a pathway to achieving climate goals.
With SK ecoplant’s investment, the green hydrogen sector is poised for rapid growth and further advancements in renewable energy technology. If the project unfolds as planned, developments in Newfoundland’s green hydrogen industry will be closely watched by investors and environmentalists worldwide.
Transition Accelerator. “The Role of Hydrogen in Canada’s Future: A Path to Net-Zero Energy”
The Dream of Green Hydrogen Era, SK Eco Plant Realizes! Canada’s New Geohonic Project
Project Nujio’qonik: Harnessing Newfoundland and Labrador’s Wind Energy
Press release: SK ecoplant invests in World Energy GH2’s Project Nujio’qonik
