Interest in hydrogen is now growing rapidly in Sweden

"The number of our members has increased dramatically over the past two years," says Björn Aronsson, Director of Vätgas Sverige. 

When Vätgas Sverige was founded in 2007, many members were primarily interested in hydrogen in the transport sector.  

"In recent years, members' interest has also rapidly expanded to include not only transport but also industry, energy production, buildings and agriculture," says Aronsson. 

The association organizes networking opportunities for hydrogen players and provides information on hydrogen and publishes reports. Three quarters of the association's income comes from various projects, studies, and reports. The association currently has eight employees, equivalent to about five full-time positions. 

Several hydrogen clusters in Sweden 

The emerging hydrogen industry in Sweden has recently focused on northern Sweden, where the steel industry's needs are rapidly increasing the entire hydrogen value chain in the region. However, according to Aronsson, significant hydrogen industry clusters are also emerging elsewhere throughout Sweden.  

There is also a metals industry that needs hydrogen in Central Sweden, where a hydrogen pipeline from the main hydrogen-producing areas in northern Sweden has been suggested as a possibility. 

In Sweden, the chemical and oil refining industries that need hydrogen are mostly concentrated in southern Sweden and on the country's west coast, with Sweden's largest port, Gothenburg, being a direct connection to the Atlantic Ocean and the future hydrogen-producing regions of Norway and Denmark in the immediate vicinity. 

Similarly, Luleå University, among others, is an important center for hydrogen research—but not the only one. Aronsson also praises the recent investments in hydrogen research at KTH in Stockholm, Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg and Umeå University. 

Emerging companies in the shadow of the majors 

Around the world, people are talking about how Sweden is already producing its first batches of steel using emission-free hydrogen. But it's not just the big companies that are leading the market; in fact, a number of interesting start-ups are also taking off in Sweden. Aronsson cites several growth companies as examples. 

For example, Sweden's long-standing strong materials research has given rise to Impact Coatings. The Linköping-based Impact Coatings develops and markets an innovative technology for PVD surface treatment. PVD (physical vapor deposition) is a method for the vacuum coating of thin metal or ceramic films. Impact Coatings is currently collaborating with Hyundai Motor to develop hydrogen fuel cell technology. 

PowerCell, based in Gothenburg, develops and manufactures fuel cells and fuel cell systems. The company was founded in 2008 as a spin-off from Volvo.  

Metacon, based in Örebro, develops and manufactures energy systems for the production of hydrogen, heat and electricity. 

The Stockholm-based MyFC uses hydrogen-based micro-PEM fuel cell technology for power applications with a nominal power of 1W-3kW. 

The Karlskog-based CellImpact manufactures mechanically advanced bipolar flow plates for hydrogen fuel cells. The company's proprietary forming process enables the production of large quantities of plates with complex and precise flow patterns. 

In Kista, Stockholm, Cortus Energy develops technology for biomass gasification. With their technology waste can be converted into renewable fuels that can be used in industries such as steel and transport. 

Permitting and zoning as a brake 

As in many other countries, companies in Sweden often find that problems with permits and zoning unnecessarily slow down projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In Sweden, industry is calling for the permit period to be shortened to a third of the current level. 

A key problem is municipalities. For example, municipalities have veto power over wind projects in their areas and have blocked 80% of new projects to build onshore wind turbines. 

According to Aronsson, part of the reason lies in history. When hydropower was built in northern Sweden, hydropower companies promised a large compensation to the local population. In the end, the compensation paid was not what was expected. As a result, energy companies face some resistance when they want to build new energy production. 

Small municipalities lead the way 

Aronsson points out, however, that there are some small municipalities in Sweden that have taken the lead in developing a hydrogen economy. Mariestad, Sandviken and Trelleborg get special praise. 

Three years ago, Mariestad municipality built the world's first solar-powered hydrogen filling station on Lake Vänern, Sweden's largest lake. Sandviken, near Gävle, has the highest number of hydrogen cars per capita in Sweden, thanks in part to local hydrogen refueling. In Trelleborg, south of Malmö, hydrogen has gained a wide presence: a vocational school is training hydrogen professionals, a local energy company is about to start producing hydrogen using Lhyfe technology and hydrogen buses have now been ordered.