The Kongsvinger region's energy strategy - joint board meeting on 31 October
Background
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.
What we came up with
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:
- Proactive approach: Instead of feeling pressured to take a position on external actors' desire for development, we focus on acquiring knowledge about the region's own needs and opportunities.
- Collaboration as key: In our region, we work together to identify needs and realize solutions. This lays the foundation for targeted development and good agreements.
- Seek knowledge before making decisions: We must agree to acquire thorough insight into all energy sources before making decisions. This gives us an overall picture of which solutions suit us best.
- Need for an energy mix: There is no single solution that can cover the entire energy requirement. We need a combination of several energy sources to ensure a robust energy supply.
- Prepare for changes: Society is facing major changes. In order to emerge stronger from these, we must make active choices that give us control. We do not want to be passive passengers on our way to an uncertain future.
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
Do you want to contribute?
We invite input on the energy strategy. Send your thoughts to lars@klosser.no or kirsti@klosser.no by 15 November.
Summary
Part 1 Joint challenge
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.
Part 2 Common goals
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:
- Power is a commodity of the moment, the power grid cannot store anything - only transport. This means that everything that is produced must be consumed at once
- A large power market provides safe access to electricity. During the winter months, the region imports 50% of its consumption. The reason for this is that our river power is unregulated, and produces the least in winter when the need is greatest
- At the same time, we export a lot of power in the summer, as we produce much more than we manage to consume
- In order to trigger the development of electricity grids, one must have what grid companies call mature projects. Which has come so far in planning and investment that it is guaranteed that it will be built
- One type of mature projects are industrial companies that need more capacity for higher energy consumption. The municipalities can play an important role by gathering new industry in the same place, which can reduce the need for expansion of the power grid and lower the construction contribution the companies have to pay.
- Another type of mature project is power generation, which needs more capacity to deliver more power.
- The grid companies will prioritize the safest customers, and power generation is considered a safer investment than industry. In our region, wind power has the greatest potential to contribute to the energy mix, both because it can finance the construction contribution and because wind power produces the most in winter, when the need is greatest.
- The most important message was that the state has given the municipalities all decision-making power in terms of prioritization and use of land, but that this comes with a responsibility to say yes to knowledge and information - before making a decision.
Part 3 Joint energy strategy
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.
- How far can we get with mature technology that requires little space?
- How can we work to ensure power, with as little interference with nature as possible?
- What is the region's attitude to immature technology?
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:
- Is there potential for wave power in a river? Or another form of river power?
- Can you take a closer look at small-scale biogas plants?
- What about the potential of emission-free biofuel?
Panel discussion: Strategic focus areas
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.
The way forward
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:
- Citizen involvement and participation process in November with an open public meeting at the beginning of December
- The knowledge base and strategy are adjusted based on input from the participation process and open public meeting
- All input and knowledge base is used as a starting point for preparing a strategy (including proposed energy mix) which is presented to the joint chairmanship (dealt with in the administrative Strategic Industry Forum 18.12)
- Joint board meeting (January) discusses strategy and energy mix
- Case and strategy are processed in KIPR, before it is sent out for consultation
- Hearing
- Political treatment in the municipalities.
- The goal is that we manage to get a decision before summer 2025
