Sweden – The Municipality of Tjörn on the Swedish West Coast has taken a significant step towards combating climate change. In collaboration with Wallhamn AB and Boson Energy SA, the municipality has made a principle decision to establish a facility for local energy production that is fossil-free, carbon negative, and contributes to mitigating climate change.
Boson Energy has developed an innovative technology for local energy production that utilizes non-recyclable waste to generate electricity and green methanol. This green methanol serves as a sustainable alternative to fossil methanol in the chemical and plastics industry, while also meeting the growing demand in the marine sector. The remarkable aspect of this process is that both the electricity and the fuel produced will be carbon negative. Boson Energy’s technology allows for the capture and utilization or storage of carbon dioxide in a clean and cost-effective manner.
The primary aim of this collaboration is to cater to the increasing energy and electricity requirements of Wallhamn AB while supporting the local power grid whenever necessary. One of the notable outcomes of the conversion process is the production of glass slag, the only solid residue. This glass slag can be utilized as an environmentally friendly filling material or further processed into climate-smart insulation material, ensuring high circular resource efficiency.
Carbon-negative port
For Wallhamn AB, this project presents an opportunity to expand its port operations and achieve its ambitious goal of becoming the world’s first carbon-negative port. The local electricity production will enable not only the charging of all the port’s vehicles but also the vehicles being unloaded in the port, ultimately facilitating fossil-free transportation. The availability of electricity will also allow Wallhamn AB to extend the electrification of the port by offering shore power connections to arriving vessels, further reducing emissions.
In addition to the energy production facility, Boson Energy has formed a partnership with Ecopromt AB to establish an indoor farming facility for vegetable cultivation near the port. This circular and area-efficient vegetable production concept developed by Ecopromt has minimal environmental impact. By locating the cultivation facility close to Boson Energy’s facility, electricity, carbon dioxide, and cooling can be directly supplied to enable energy and climate-efficient farming.
Facilities construction
The municipality’s principle decision paves the way for the preparation and establishment of these facilities. The municipality will explore the availability of suitable industrial properties within areas covered by ongoing detailed planning processes.
The projected timeline suggests that the construction of the proposed facilities will commence in 2025 at the earliest. Once operational, these activities are expected to create 150-200 new job opportunities within the municipality, contributing to the local economy while driving sustainable development.
This collaborative effort between the municipality, Wallhamn AB, Boson Energy, and Ecopromt demonstrates a commitment to fostering clean and innovative technologies that promote a greener future. By embracing fossil-free energy production, carbon capture, and sustainable farming practices, Tjörn Municipality is set to become a shining example of environmental stewardship and economic growth.
