PUBLIC MEETINGS
Recording of open public meeting on nuclear power and energy mix 05.06.24
Recording of open public meeting on the Kongsvinger region's energy strategy 08.01.25
MISCELLANEOUS KNOWLEDGE BASES
Power ABC by Kjetil Wold Henriksen
Panel discussion on the industry's carft needs
The only thing that is certain is that we will need more power for the industry in the years to come. The challenge is that all options for new power generation have major advantages and disadvantages, and that all development of infrastructure that affects
people and nature is unpopular.
Energy efficiency is an important measure, but also demanding to implement due to investment costs.
At the same time, we must ensure that the electricity grid is always in balance, that is to say that the same amount of electricity is produced as is consumed.
In order to alleviate disadvantages and exploit advantages, reduce the need for natural interventions and at the same time ensure balance in the grid, we need more sources of power and energy. We call this an energy mix.
The region needs more residents of working age and attractive jobs. In order to retain and create jobs in the region, industry and business need more power for growth and a green transition.
Our challenge is that we currently produce too little renewable energy in the winter months, when the need is greatest. In addition, we have too poor a power grid to import more power than we already do today.
The Kongsvinger region is a collaboration between the municipalities of Grue, Eidskog, Kongsvinger, Nord-Odal, Sør-Odal and Åsnes to succeed in industrial and commercial development.
Do you want to learn more about energy concepts? Watch the film with Kjetil Wold Henriksen:
You will find more information about the project HERE.
Here you can give input to the Kongsvinger region's energy strategy.
The input we have received to date provides the basis for an open public meeting on 8.1.25 January 18 at 20-4 at Innlandet Science Park (Strandvegen 2212, XNUMX Kongsvinger).
AGENDA
18.00 Welcome // Agenda, goals and expectations v/Lars Gillund
18.03 Background // What is the power challenge v/ Elin Såheim Bjørkli
18.08 What is energy? // Clarification of terms v/Kjetil Wold Henriksen
18.13 Energy demand // What is the energy demand of the industry? v/Lars Gillund
18.18 Energy mix // Panel discussion. Questions and input from the audience via the input portal Aula
19.10 BREAK
19.20 Energy strategy // Our energy strategy is collaboration with Lars Gillund
19.35 Panel discussion // What should we collaborate on?
19.55 The way forward // Our need, our choice v/Elin Såheim Bjørkli
20.00 Thank you for tonight
PANEL PARTICIPANTS
(Photo: Pan Tretophytter. Andreas Kokkvoll/Visit Eastern Norway)
In January 2024, the chairmanships of the Kongsvinger region's municipalities met to gain insight into the knowledge base and possibilities for how we can secure enough renewable energy for industry and local communities, without making too great an impact on nature. We saw that the challenges are great, but also that cooperation is the key to success.
The goal was to create a joint energy strategy based on the premise: We must ensure enough renewable energy for industry, with as little interference with nature as possible.
Through several working meetings with participants from the municipalities, industry, energy producers, power grid operators, nature conservation interests and research environments, we now have a proposal for a joint energy strategy for the region.
At the meeting on 31 October, we summarized our most important lessons learned:
Below you can read a more detailed summary of the day. The presentation from the joint chairmanship on 31.10.24, as well as the documents Energimiks and the Kongsvinger region's energy strategy are available as links for download.
link: Presentation
link: Energy mix
link: The Kongsvinger region's energy strategy
We invite input on the energy strategy. Send your thoughts to lars@klosser.no or kirsti@klosser.no by 15 November.
What is our power challenge?
Since 2007, the region has experienced a large loss of businesses and jobs. Because of this, the region started a collaboration on business development - with the aim of bringing 100 new jobs to the region each year. Through collaboration, we have managed to reverse the trend, creating almost 70 new jobs each year. Nevertheless, we still have more than 1000 fewer jobs than in 2007.
Now in 2024 there is a complete stop to new industrial establishments, new growth and the opportunity to carry out a green transition for the industry, due to too little effect/capacity in the power grid.
In a panel discussion with representatives from Hydro, Maarud, Schütz and Klosser, we were given concrete examples of the challenges facing industry and business. They shared insights into how they take responsibility for leading the way with investments in energy efficiency, and how a lack of capacity and energy has led to new companies choosing to establish themselves in neighboring regions instead.
What opportunities do we have?
A good strategy should both identify obstacles and show how we can use our strengths to overcome them. The Kongsvinger region's energy strategy is designed to give us a deeper understanding of our energy needs and help us prioritize the solutions that will make the region an even better place to live.
We have chosen cooperation as our main strategy for success. This means that we share both advantages and challenges, use resources more efficiently, and build expertise that gives us the confidence to make good decisions for a green transition.
In the second part of the day, the resource group, led by process manager Kirsti Strømstad, presented its recommendations through five strategic focus areas. These areas have been carefully selected as the most important we need to work on to achieve our goals. Each focus area contains concrete measures that address the biggest barriers we must overcome to succeed.
What will it take to trigger the development of more and better electricity grids?
In addition to too little renewable power, our region also has a very poor power grid. This means that we do not have the opportunity to import the power we need from other regions. To learn more about the electricity grid, the electricity market and what is needed to trigger more network development in the region, we had a visit from Henning Olsen, CEO of Eidsiva. His message was clear:
How will we cooperate?
In preparation for a panel discussion on collaboration and presentation of the focus areas, solutions and measures in the strategy, all the representatives were given the knowledge base: Energy mix in the Kongsvinger region.
The document attempts to show the potential of various energy sources and their composition, which can give us the opportunity to secure enough renewable energy for the region, with as little interference with nature as possible.
Discussion paper
After a quick read-through, the representatives discussed overall issues related to the energy mix in the region.
Input across 7 groups:
We see the value of mature energy technology that requires little space and will bet on this. "The best kilowatt-hour is the one we don't use." Both households and municipalities can achieve large savings through energy efficiency, but this requires support for investments. Better subsidy schemes will make it easier for municipalities to implement measures that promote sustainable, area-efficient solutions.
In order to cover the energy needs, we also have to use it mature technology that requires some area, preferably integrated into existing infrastructure such as along motorways. The municipalities can set restrictions on wind power projects, but must be compensated for the land use. We need a robust power grid to meet the region's needs, and it should be easier to share excess energy and residual capacity between the players. It is important to balance environmental considerations against the need for power development, especially in natural areas such as forests.
We should be open to new technology that is not yet mature, such as nuclear power and X-wind, both options that require little land. Supporting nuclear power as an option can contribute to technological development, especially if several municipalities show interest. Certain political parties also support nuclear power as a future energy solution.
Input was also given for the energy mix, which will be explored further and added:
In the last part of the day, representatives from the administration and politicians from the various municipalities took part in a panel discussion to talk about the various focus areas in the strategy, what we are already doing today that we can build on and what we can work together on.
A proposal for a further process has been drawn up, which will be processed in the Kongsvinger region IPR during November.
The proposal is as follows:
We hope to see you when we invite you to an open house in the region's new great hall, Inland Science Park (InSP)
Are you moving out, moving in, newly moved in, or have lived here for a long time - everyone is equally welcome to experience why this investment will mean so much to the region in the future!
The day will be rich in content, and we want to, among other things,:
During the day you will be able to bring with you:
Same day arranges Kongsvinger municipality family day, so this will be a day full of life and fun that you cannot miss!
The IT department at Statistics Norway would like to share, but would also like to hear others' experiences with the topics of cloud services and IT security.
If these are topics that you or your business are interested in, then it is a great opportunity to gather and share knowledge!
Location: Statistics Norway (SSB), Otervegen 23, Kongsvinger
There will be simple serving. We look forward to seeing you, feel free to bring a friend or more. Welcome!
The Kongsvinger region needs a knowledge-based decision-making basis that shows the connection between our needs for jobs, the opportunity to live a good life in the region, natural diversity and energy.
We are therefore starting a process where we collect knowledge, discuss goals and ambitions for the region. We must also look at measures to solve the challenges we face, if we are to manage to secure enough energy for the industry to cope with the green shift. The goal is to ensure industry god access of power, low electricity prices for people, with so small engagement i nature that possible.
On Wednesday 5 June, we invited to an open meeting at Innlandet Science Park (InSP) to share issues and knowledge, with the aim of getting input into the strategy process around what is the challenge in our region.
The agenda for the evening contained themes around:
Good width in the posts
In the meeting, we heard presentations about the challenges in the region, common vision for the future - process, timeline, what needs to be done. Norsk Kjernekraft gave us an introduction to the potential, advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power. Glava Energy Center gave us knowledge about the energy mix. The question of line capacity and how we become attractive for development was highlighted by Elvia.
Objectives of the project
The aim of the project is to agree on a common power strategy for the six municipalities in the Kongsvinger region (Kongsvinger, Eidskog, Grue, Åsnes, Sør-Odal and Nord-Odal). The strategy will define the future need for power, and manage the development of renewable energy in the region.
Want to follow the process? If so, you can read more here: THE POWER CHALLENGE
See the recording of the meeting here
Couldn't you join the meeting? The broadcast can be seen in its entirety via this link at Glåmdalen: PUBLIC MEETING ON THE ENERGY MIX IN THE KONGSVINGER REGION
The key to a strategy that works is that we both set goals that we can reach for, while at the same time not trying to do more than we have the resources for. Collection 3 in energy strategy is about prioritising: what should we take with us further and what should we put aside.
A strategy does not make decisions for us, but is a knowledge-based basis, which helps us make decisions on individual matters, so that each decision, in the long run, contributes to a better region.
The challenge with good strategy processes is that many end up only as a report in a drawer. The reasons are many, but it is always sad when a lot of thought and working time has been put into creating a tool, which is not used further.
In a strategy report, we like to find a number of measures, recommendations and plans - which are good enough. What is often missing is that someone has ownership of the solutions, someone has thought through how the strategy is to be realised, what consequences it has for the local community and whether it is possible to finance what we want to achieve.
On 13 June we met for the penultimate meeting in energy strategy. The aim of the workshop was to go from a wide selection of ideas created in workshop 3 and from input during the public meeting - to concept sketches that show the potential of each solution. This makes it easier to prioritize what we should do in our region.
En Germ of ideas is described as a basic and often unfinished thought or inspiration, while a concepts is a more detailed and structured plan that develops the idea further into a feasible project.
The concept sketching tool is inspired by Alexander Osterwalders: business model canvas, a simple worksheet but intended to structure a business model, so that it is easy to communicate. To define the potential of each concept, we have taken these points as a starting point:
So how have we worked to prioritize which ideas will become concepts?
At the start of the day, the resource group had to familiarize themselves with the idea sprouts, by putting a mark on the ideas they themselves feel are important from the perspectives of sustainable energy (green), good municipal finances (blue) and support from residents (orange). With green, blue and orange stickers, a first overview emerged of which solutions the resource group believes can take us to the desired future.
Download the ideas as a pdf here
In order to get an overview of which ideas deserve to become concepts, they should be sorted on a timeline. The purpose was to make it clear what is low-hanging fruit, which ideas can only be implemented if some that and to weed out those ideas that are too complex to be realised.
What we saw was that the participants saw potential in many of the ideas already from today, and the ideas that ended up a few years in the future were about immature technology.
Some ideas are strong enough to become a separate concept, while other ideas are puzzle pieces that together provide a better solution. Starting from the ideas that lay beyond the timeline, the participants selected idea sprouts and discussed their potential, and the next step to learn more about what is needed for the concept sketch to become a solution that adds value to the region. These are further processed in conversations with subject experts, here is a summary of the topics that were discussed:
Natural values
To take care of nature, we must first document its value. What will it take for municipalities to be able to make decisions that look after both nature, residents and industry's needs?
Concept: Common area strategy for the region
The first step must be to map the natural values we have in the region. With this as a data basis, it becomes easy to say no to the development of energy, roads, cabins or other infrastructure in vulnerable areas. At the same time, we move the incentives for development to areas that have already been developed, or have little natural value.
In the societal debate on energy, renewable energy versus nature is one of the most important questions that must be answered. Today, this is difficult, if not impossible, as we largely see and feel the natural values we have in the region. It doesn't work - we need to know!
Concept: From municipal boundaries to impact maps
A map where municipal boundaries have been erased and replaced with boundaries for noise and visual pollution in a given radius of potential development cases.
It is a concern that one municipality chooses to develop wind or solar power so close to a municipal boundary that the neighbor will suffer the same burden in the form of lost outdoor area, noise and sunset.
A fair distribution of the value creation from energy production is that the surplus is distributed according to stress on neighbors and the landscape in the immediate vicinity, regardless of municipal boundaries.
Sensible consumption
What is needed to reduce energy consumption, produce and store energy locally? What is the potential in this? And what is the municipality's role here?
Concept: Energy mapping for most people
What do we actually use the most electricity for? Which measures cost the least and provide the greatest benefit? Who can I trust before making an investment?
What if we offer energy advice for most people? A neutral adviser who knows electricity and has a good overview of new technology, solutions and support schemes.
Based on your building, he can give concrete advice on the simplest measures for you, what pays off today and what can bring benefits in the long term.
Concept: Mini processes for mini production
Even for small installations – mini-power plants on their own property, it must be easy to find information and simple bureaucratic processes.
The initial investment and bureaucracy are two major obstacles to more people being able to get solutions that help reduce electricity consumption. Whether it is additional insulation, replacement of windows or doors - for solar cells on the roof or geothermal energy for heating, it is difficult to know what you need to apply for, how big a facility you can have and where you can get support for financing.
We can collect information and help at Kongsvingerregionen.no, and simplify processes that help reduce electricity consumption in households, on farms and in industry.
Concept: Pig driving on biogas?
We have enough biomass in the region in the form of food waste, animal dung, raw material from industry and sewage sludge to operate 3 biogas plants, which corresponds to a production of around 100GWh.
But political will is needed, today it is difficult to get profitability in biogas plants. In Sweden and Denmark, the facilities receive public support for both investment to build, but also operation. We don't do that in Norway.
In Europe, small biogas plants connected to one or more farms located close to each other have become more common. Farmers with biological residual raw materials such as expensive dung, logging and food waste, and use this in biogas plants in the immediate vicinity. The circle can be closed by the farmers themselves being able to use biodiesel.
The question is whether new technology, variations in electricity prices, demand, sustainability goals and political will provide a sustainable business model?
Concept: Symbiosis Park
In an industrial symbiosis, one company's surplus energy and residual waste become another's resource.
Industrial symbiosis starts with creating awareness of the potential of such a form of cooperation and symbiotic exchanges with individual companies and the industry as a whole.
By building an identity, choosing good business models, establishing cooperation between all actors and laying down a joint strategy for an industry, we can create the world's best examples of cooperation for new growth.
Idea: Symbiosis facilitator visits business parks to map the potential for innovation and growth through better utilization of residual raw materials, surplus materials and energy.
Idea: Certification of areas, not just buildings! This can create greater incentives for cooperation, measurable results, make the area attractive for new industry and benefits in the form of favorable loans.
Larger facilities for energy production will be closely linked to the development of electricity grids, which is triggered by demand for more energy for what the grid company classifies as mature projects. As of today, this has a longer timeline, as the development of a central power grid usually takes 10 years from the start of construction.
There is no doubt that if we want more industry and growth in the region, we will eventually need to develop more energy, but what, where and how must be based on an objective data-based decision-making basis that takes into account natural values, natural risks, as well as the impact on people and health.
In the last meeting over the summer, we will look at a first draft of the strategy, and what potential for further development of the region it will trigger. By reducing consumption by residents, agriculture and industry, as well as upgrading and utilizing flexibility in the network - how far will we get? What opportunities are we possibly missing, and if so, is it okay?
The tentative date for the review of the strategic draft in an open meeting is set for 03 October 2024. More information about this will come over the summer.
Municipalities have great purchasing power. By prioritizing acquisitions that stimulate a circular economy, demand will be directed towards products and services that are resource efficient, have a long life and can be reused when they are out of date. This in turn leads to lower CO2 emissions, preservation of biological diversity and less extraction of (critical) raw materials. Circular economy is a solution that can slow down climate-nature and the commodity crisis.
This is a guide to help municipalities succeed with circular procurement, developed by the Kongsvinger region in collaboration with Circular Norway. The target group is politicians, municipal management (budget managers) and and procurement experts.
You can find the guide here: Supervisor Circular procurement
Dear residents and visitors - experience Kongsvinger this summer!
We are pleased to present a brand new city map for Kongsvinger, designed to help you explore a selection of what our city has to offer. The map is perfect for you whether you are a tourist, new to the city, or have lived here for a long time and want to get to know Kongsvinger better. Get to know the city's selection in the following four categories better:
Pleasant trade and local taxes
Discover Kongsvinger's unique niche shops. From cozy clothes shops to unique gift shops, here you get tips on where you can shop locally and support the city's small businesses.
Taste experiences and pleasant breaks
Enjoy a selection of the city's cafes, patisseries, restaurants, bakeries and nightclubs. Here you will find recommendations for everything from a quick cup of coffee to a long, relaxing dinner.
Experiences, adventures and endorphins
Find the best places for a day filled with urban experiences. See an overview of various activity offers, museums, play parks, cultural offers and bathing opportunities.
Reuse, borrow, fix and renew
Explore the possibilities of living sustainably with the city's offers for reuse, repair and renewal. Here you will find tips on where you can borrow equipment, repair clothes or buy second-hand treasures.
Here you will find the map
The map is available in many of the city's niche shops and restaurants. In addition, you will find the map at the Town Hall Theatre, Kongsvinger library and Servicetorget to name a few places.
YOU CAN ALSO DOWNLOAD THE MAP HERE.
We hope that the map will make it easier for you to explore Kongsvinger, discover new favorite places, and make the most of what the city has to offer. Whether you are looking for exciting experiences, sustainable alternatives, pleasant shopping or delicious taste experiences, we hope the map will give you valuable tips and inspiration.
Happy exploring!
With best regards,
The town of Vår Kongsvinger with the partners Klosser Innovasjon og Practice
