Classic Brussels weather – sideways rain – welcomed Stockholm Exergi CEO Anders Egelrud on September 26 when it was time to announce the winner of the European Sustainable Energy Awards competition. Stockholm Exergi’s Beccs Stockholm was one of three finalists in the competition whose voting process was conducted similarly to the Eurovision contest with votes from EU citizens and a jury. Stockholm Exergi’s BECCS project has previously been highlighted by the EU, having been selected to receive support from the EU Innovation Fund.

According to rumors on the ground, we led the polls with two days left to go but unfortunately it wasn’t enough to take us over the finish line. Obviously a big disappointment, but we will be good sports and congratulate the winner: MUSE Grids who work with applications that can support more renewable energy on a local level.

Regardless, Beccs Stockholm’s final placement is once again proof that the path Stockholm Exergi has chosen is the right one. At the same time, we are seeing worrying signals from the EU, who have spoken out and said that the forestry residue we use in energy production shall not be classified as sustainable. A so-called “trilogue” has begun in which the European Parliament, European Council and the European Commission will negotiate on the definition of bioenergy. We are going to be very active in our attempts to influence the direction of this definition, so that Sweden’s long-traveled path of sustainability efforts will also apply at the EU level.

Our trip concluded with a series of meetings with important stakeholders, such as the Swedish Energy Council in Brussels. One of the issues discussed was plans for Sweden’s EU presidency in 2023, and how we at Stockholm Exergi can help and support the work that will go into it. We look forward to this, as bioenergy’s significance to climate efforts must be seen as apparent.

Author

Joakim Ceije

Last update

  • 2022-10-04