KTH Energy Platform to focus on spreading knowledge that supports the climate transition

“At the moment, we’re heading up KTH’s consultation process on government proposals for new energy policy targets ahead of the upcoming energy policy bill. I’ve also been asked by the EU to give our views on investments that have been made in the past year in Sweden in terms of improving the resilience of our electricity production. And I’ll soon be on my way to a meeting at the Ministry of Climate and Enterprise to try to strengthen ways in which we can contribute more knowledge and continue the Energy Dialogues."

“When the government appointed a national co-ordinator for the expansion of nuclear power, it was a step to manage the energy transition, but we need efforts in more areas to succeed. We also need more ways and platforms where researchers, politicians and civil servants can meet and work together to find ways to increase electricity production, electrification and achieve the climate goals.”

One of the first events of the spring term is the release of a book to highlight a new anthology: Handbook on Climate Change and Technology, which has already been described as “a gold mine for practitioners and researchers in the field of climate change and technology”.

“The handbook is an excellent example of how we researchers can contribute concrete advice and knowledge in the green transition. It brings together researchers from all over the world and several, including myself from KTH, author their own chapters. We’re organising the event together with the KTH Climate Action Center and it’s open to all on January 29th .

“The following day, January 30th, and together with Kyoto University, we’re holding a symposium entitled “Digital Revolution for a Sustainable Future” , during which researchers from Japan and KTH will share the latest research in AI and smart electricity grids, electricity demand forecasting, industrial consequences of electrification, automation and cyber security, and more.

But that’s not all, is it? The Platform is planning more events throughout the spring, right?

“Absolutely. We’ll be bringing together energy researchers working on hydrogen from all parts of KTH on Monday 19th February, including the EU project Bio-Flex Gen , the Vinnova pre-study  focusing on the Ovako facility and the PUSH research centre , for a seminar together with Luleå University of Technology and the hydrogen center CH2ESS.  The aim is to find more ways to work across sectors and contribute to more research projects in hydrogen gas. I visited Luleå during IVA’s Royal Technology Tour  in the autumn and was impressed by their initiatives in the hydrogen field. 

“Together with the Society of Members of Parliament and Researchers (Rifo) , we’re planning to hold a follow-up to the “How widespread electrification can meet climate goals”  seminar. We organised that seminar in 2021 as a way of contributing to Sweden’s national electrification strategy and it was very much appreciated. The seminar will take place on March 20th , and we hope to contribute our knowledge in a similar way to participating MPs.”

Text: Magnus Trogen Pahlén