By 2025, Akademiska Hus will reduce the amount of energy delivered to half of what it was in 2000. At the same time, the company works to ensure that the energy that must be purchased is fossil-free. The work is part of Akademisk Hus' goal of achieving climate neutrality throughout the value chain by 2035, when emissions must have been reduced by at least 85 percent compared to 2019. The remaining emissions of 15 percent are removed during the same financial year, with negative emissions, for example. Akademiska Hus therefore signs a letter of intent to purchase negative emissions from district heating via the bio-CCS plant that Stockholm Exergi plans to build from 2026.
"As one of Sweden's largest real estate companies, we have the opportunity to influence the energy industry by actively requesting a supply of heating and cooling with as low a climate impact as possible and even negative emissions where available. In this way, we can drive the transition towards fossil-free energy use while getting closer to our goal of climate neutrality and contributing to even more sustainable campuses," says Erik Florman, Head of Sustainability at Akademiska Hus.
More contracts for district heating with a low climate impact
Akademiska Hus already has supplementary agreements with other suppliers regarding district heating with a lower climate impact: Göteborg Energi, Luleå Energi, Umeå Energi, Tekniska verken in Linköping and E.ON in Norrköping and Örebro. In total, these six agreements and the letter of intent that is now being signed with Stockholm Exergi correspond to approximately 45 percent of Akademiska Hus' delivered district heating volume.
"Akademiska Hus has operations all over the country and district heating suppliers from north to south, which gives us a unique position and a good overview of district heating production in Sweden. As a larger, national consumer, we can make a difference by influencing the energy industry towards innovative solutions that provide climate benefits on a large scale," says Erik Florman.
Facts about bio-CCS
Bio-CCS (Bio-Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage) means that biogenic carbon dioxide from the combustion of biofuel for heat and electricity production is separated from the flue gases and then permanently stored in the bedrock under the seabed. Since the carbon dioxide that is captured and stored previously has been bound by the forest through photosynthesis, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is reduced when new forest grows. All in all, the technology means that permanent negative emissions, so-called negative emissions, are created. Source: Stockholm Exergi.