Hydrogen – FVB's latest development area

There are some very ambitious plans for the development of hydrogen in Sweden and by moving from fossil fuels to green hydrogen, various sectors can cut carbon emissions in real terms and be able to meet the stringent climate requirements and targets set within Sweden and the EU. Hydrogen can also contribute to greater flexibility within the Swedish energy system, which will be even more important.

Much of the planned hydrogen production in this country is intended for use as the main ingredient for electro-fuels, green steel, electro-methanol and artificial fertiliser.

Industry driving development
"The driving force within the development of green hydrogen is primarily industry, which sees it as a raw material or energy source for the green transition. We also see that energy companies are interested, to help their customers use and store more renewable electricity, but that they can also use surplus heat from electrolysers in district heating systems," says Henrik Lindholm.

FVB can make use of the skills of its other business units as they start to work within the field of hydrogen. The main thing is the experience gained from district heating with regard to long pipelines and handling surplus heat from industry.

"FVB is one of the leading companies in the country in terms of expertise within district heating pipelines. Plans for pipelines carrying hydrogen are now well advanced, and we have the expertise and experience that will be in demand to be able to build those pipelines," says Lindholm.

FVB is not working on any specific hydrogen project as yet, but is involved in several of the large-scale industrial projects in the Nordics where hydrogen plays a key role.

"Our involvement in these projects is 'sector connection' with district heating, where we're working with recycling heat from electrolysers. Managing surplus heat from hydrogen production can become a major factor in industry. We have system customers and extensive experience from energy companies using industrial surplus heat, which is an asset in a project in which surplus heat comes from hydrogen production," states Lindholm.

Risk management
The third business area in which FVB can play a major role is risk management: classification plans and safety linked to a gas system and in which the company currently works on issues within energy gases such as biogas, natural gas and LPG.

"Hydrogen is different to these energy gases, so there's a lot we need to learn, but we do have extensive experience with what's involved working with energy gases, which we and our customers will be able to benefit from," comments Lindholm before adding:

"Hydrogen will mean massive change within many different sectors. The need to tackle climate change is becoming urgent, and the green transition needs a good start with successful projects. FVB's system perspective and broad system expertise within various parts of increasingly integrated energy systems will contribute to projects and systems with high energy efficiency and the best possible utilisation of resources.