Your monthly briefing on the journey to fossil freedom

Issue #2 Energy storage, April 2023

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Turning wind power into plannable power – with hydrogen

What to know: Turning weather dependent wind power into plannable energy might soon be a reality. With wind turbines that produce storable hydrogen rather than electricity, the energy can be used even when there is no wind.

Why it matters: Flexibility is key to a reliable energy system when we depend more on wind and sun. Hydrogen as an energy carrier can turn weather dependent wind power into a more predictable energy source – making it possible to expand the production of fossil free energy.

How batteries transform the energy landscape

Balancing act. Batteries will play a major role in the energy transition, from being a simple power source to helping stabilize electricity grids to balance demand and supply for the purpose of maintaining a constant frequency.

“Don't fight carbon with carbon in the energy transition”

Tracking the carbon footprint. Wilhelm Löwenhielm, head of Battery Energy Storage Systems at Northvolt, explains the battery maker’s ambitious mission to create the world’s greenest batteries. 

The way the wind blows: Most growth investments go to wind power

Growth capex per technology, bn SEK

Title Value
Power distribution 2.5
Heat supply 5
Solar and batteries, charging and other technologies 7.5
Wind power 35

Fossil-free future. Vattenfall is planning to invest around 3.1 billion EUR in development and construction of new wind farms in 2023 and 2024. Main focus is on projects in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. The growing emphasis on wind power reflects Vattenfall’s commitment to enabling fossil-free living within one generation. 

How sugar kelp and wind turbines can improve marine ecosystems

What: Blue mussels, sugar kelp, sea lettuce and dulse will be produced on lines at an offshore wind farm in the North Sea.

Why: Demand for food with a low climate footprint is increasing, and an offshore wind farm could provide favourable conditions for underwater farming.

News flash

3 x quick updates from the energy world

And finally …
Lessons learned from quitting whale oil

Whale oil was the main energy source for illumination in Europe and the US 200 years ago. The near extinction of whales prompted a transition and fossil oil replaced the oil from the world’s largest mammals, which seemed a great solution at the time. That historic energy transition offers many valuable lessons for us today, writes The Guardian.

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