Strengthening energy planning for a sustainable future

The energy transition is one of the most central issues in today's society, so it is important that municipalities and regions have strong energy plans to achieve a climate-neutral future. Together with Trollhättan Energi, the city of Trollhättan has started a collaboration to secure a long-term and sustainable energy supply for both residents and companies.

The IN-PLAN project, with West Sweden Energy Agency as the lead organization for the Swedish part, brings together municipalities at different stages of energy planning. Some are in the starting blocks, while others are already in the implementation phase. By collaborating and benefiting from each other's experiences and insights, the goal is to strengthen the municipalities' ability to make effective energy plans. Innovatum Science Park holds the project together for the different municipalities and supports the participants to take steps forward.

The energy transition demands integrated spatial planning

The energy transition requires not only greater collaboration and consensus, but also more integrated spatial planning. The changes in the energy sector affect land use, construction, transportation, industry and infrastructure for electricity and heat. This is something that the City of Trollhättan and Trollhättan Energi want to develop together. With the help of the IN-PLAN project, they will be able to test and implement support structures that strengthen them in their work towards a necessary energy transition.

- A large proportion of our greenhouse gas emissions come from the way we extract, convert and use energy. Access to reliable and renewable energy with low climate emissions is therefore a prerequisite for Trollhättan's entire future; for our business community and for our residents. To meet this need, we need to work on many fronts. For example, we need to learn more about how we can include the energy aspect in the long-term planning of Trollhättan's land and water areas, says Agnes Falck, sustainability strategist at Trollhättan city.

Long-term strategies for the city's energy supply

The major focus is of course to find different solutions for the city to develop a sustainable energy supply. One of the ways to achieve this is to move the energy issue up in more forums in the city of Trollhättan and gain more knowledge about energy issues.

During the meeting it was identified, for example, that the energy issue is not included in the work on the city's master plan. Raising the issue already in the planning process and having the opportunity to bring in expertise from Trollhättan Energi would lay a solid foundation and create a more secure energy supply for the city.

-"Thanks to the EU project Life IN-PLAN, we have started learning together with Trollhättan Energi. It is appreciated from both sides to gain a better understanding of our common challenges through knowledge exchange, says Agnes Falck.

The discussions focused on future needs for the city and Trollhättan Energi highlighted various possibilities and technologies for storing energy. This could, for example, be in the form of heat storage in unused rock caverns. Everyone agreed that this is an important issue that needs to be included in future planning and has the potential to become a new collaborative project between the parties.

Sustainable energy supply for industry and households

The phasing out of fossil fuels and the electrification of society require more energy to be produced in Sweden, for example to heat buildings, power vehicles and meet the electricity needs of industry and households. All municipalities and cities need to consider where the energy will come from.

-Placing solar and wind power plants close to each other and sharing the same connection point to the electricity grid can generate major social benefits. The need to expand the electricity grid infrastructure is reduced. This works because solar and wind power have different production patterns throughout the day and year. By combining both, you can better match energy production, optimize land use and minimize costs, explains Robin Ruth, Head of Grid Development at Trollhättan Energi.

International cooperation for common solutions

The IN-PLAN project is carried out in cooperation with European partners, and one of the main objectives is to capitalize on each other's strengths and find common solutions for current and future energy issues, something Trollhättan is now embracing.

Through cooperation and collaboration, the project will play an important role in accelerating the path towards climate neutrality both in Sweden and in Europe. IN-PLAN is funded by the EU's LIFE programme.