Our Way 2/22 1
technology, Wallfast decided to start the constru
ction of its most powerful wind turbine yet. The enormous new structure is a sight to behold, standing some 200 metres high, with three rotating blades, each measuring 70 metres. It has the capacity to produce 16 GWh, almost three times as much as the earlier models at the wind farm, which managed 6 GWh. Construction of the turbine started in May 2022. Due to some delivery problems, the start of the turbine was delayed, but the operation and production of electricity began in November. As this is such a prestigious project, every step has been documented. Meanwhile, the wind turbine has also gathered interest from others within the industry and local media. THE NEW ADDITION to the wind park is yet another step in Wallfast’s sustainability journey, and there’s more to come. The company is in discussions over expanding the wind park from five to 12 turbines, marking a potentially huge upside for both Wallfast and the industries based in the nearby area. “A huge increased demand for electricity is expected, especially in Norrland where many new industries are set to start up, like, for example, those producing fossil-free steel,” says Gerry Blomqvist, project manager at Wallfast. “We believe the prospects are good, both for getting new projects through and recouping our investment.” Gerry Blomqvist Project Manager, Wallfast “We need to solve storage and flexibility” Anna Wolf is acting CEO for Power Circle, a trade association for the Swedish electricity industry that looks into issues of the future. Power Circle’s aim is to accelerate the sustainable transition by enabling networking and expanding knowledge. Watch the installation of the turbine here! Are more companies self-sufficient when it comes to energy? My gut feeling is that it´s more and more common for companies to handle their own electricity production, like IKEA* for example. I see two main reasons for this. Firstly, to secure the price of the electricity and secondly, for sustainability reasons. Also, many companies will now increase their use of electricity, for example by using electric transportation methods. , Combining different energy sources – why is that a good thing? It´s always good to put your eggs in several baskets, for energy as well, and the trick is to find matching production profiles. When combining wind and solar power, you get a high availability factor since it´s often more windy at night, and also during the winter, when the sun doesn’t shine as much. What are the biggest challenges looking ahead? More and more companies look into different storage solutions, whether they be battery storage or large-scale use of hydrogen gas. Expanding alternative energy sources calls for a more flexible power grid. Historically, the grid has been dimensioned for the highest expected strain on it. This works well when the energy flow is even and possible to predict, but if it’s not, a lot of capacity is wasted when it’s not needed. *IKEA, as well as Wallfast, already produces more renewable energy than it consumes after making big investments in wind turbines and solar energy. OUR WAY 2/2022 11