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May

New pilot plant to extract nitrogen from wastewater

In a new pilot plant at Hammarby Sjöstadsverk, nitrogen will be extracted from wastewater. Together with the company Ekobalans, IVL is testing and optimising a new technology that it hopes will be used at more wastewater treatment plants in Sweden. The ability to recycle and recirculate nutrients from wastewater is an extremely topical issue in the water and sewage industry.

IVL becoming the principal owner of Möbelfakta

In May, IVL became the new majority owner of the independent labelling system Möbelfakta, which was previously owned by Trä- och Möbelföretagen. Möbelfakta targets producers, buyers, designers and other actors in the furniture industry, and is based on three elements: quality, the environment and social responsibility. IVL will operate and develop the system in future to meet the requirements of public procurement and be able to grow internationally. Read more on page 41.

New study reveals microplastics in the air

A study carried out by IVL shows that microplastic particles can be transported by air to locations far away from the source of the emissions. Samples were collected from eleven sites and twenty sampling points, from Grankölen in Norrbotten County to central Malmö in the southwest of Sweden. Rubber particles from vehicle tyres were also discovered in the air samples, although their air dispersion appears to be more geographically limited.

June

Uneven preparation in a changing climate

On behalf of the Swedish National Expert Council for Climate Adaptation, IVL has mapped how Sweden’s municipalities, regions and county administrative boards are preparing for a changing climate. The county administrative boards, which have a designated coordination mandate, are conducting extensive work on climate adaptation, while hardly any climate adaptation work is being carried out in the regions at all. The amount the municipalities do in this area is often linked to whether they have previously been affected by extreme weather events and climate change.

Biogas production can be increased many times over – and this is how we get there

The Swedish biogas system can be significantly expanded, including through public procurement, local networks of operators and political instruments. This can be seen from a report from the Collaboration Programme for Renewable Fuels and Systems, f3, in which IVL participates.

July

Waste heat in Europe – unique insight

More flexible electricity grids can lead to large into the mindset of industries

reductions in climate emissions Despite the fact that there are good techniques for using In collaboration with the company Blixt Tech, IVL has surplus heat from industry, only a fraction of this potential looked at how controlling demand and production in the is used. The IVL-led EU project So What is presenting two electricity grid can affect energy usage and CO2 emisreports that show the preconditions for using industrial sions in the housing sector in four EU countries. There is waste heat in different European countries, as well as the considerable potential. According to the study, if the flexbusiness models that are required. The estimated potential ibility that exists within the electricity grids is used to in the EU is 300 TWh annually, corresponding to reduce peak hours or to steer towards renewable energy approximately ten percent of the total heating demand for sources, this can result in reductions in emissions of housing in the EU. The greatest potential for surplus heat between 10 and 24 megatonnes of CO2 each year. occurs in the steel industry.

Waste heat in Europe – unique insight into the mindset of industries Despite the fact that there are good techniques for using More flexible electricity grids can lead to large reductions in climate emissions surplus heat from industry, only a fraction of this potenIn collaboration with the company Blixt Tech, IVL has looked tial is used. The IVL-led EU project So What presents at how controlling demand and production in the electricity two reports that show the preconditions for using indusgrid can affect energy usage and CO2 emissions in the housing trial waste heat in different European countries, as well sector in four EU countries. There is considerable potential. as the business models that are required. The estimated According to the study, if the flexibility that exists within the potential in the EU is 300 TWh annually, corresponding electricity grids is used to reduce peak hours or to steer towards to approximately ten percent of the total heating demand renewable energy sources, this can result in reductions in for housing in the EU. The greatest potential for surplus emissions of between 10 and 24 megatonnes of CO2 each year. heat occurs in the steel industry.

Collaboration will reduce microplastics in the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea

IVL is launching a project in China aimed at preventing and reducing the inflow of microplastics from land-based sources into the sea. In the project, researchers will investigate how to reduce the spread of microplastics from textile industries and wastewater treatment plants along the coast of the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea. The project is being supported by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

Work for a green, safe and sustainable chemical industry gaining momentum

In August, the work within Mistra Safechem was launched. The research programme, which is being coordinated by IVL, is based on close collaboration between research and industry, with the aim of creating a sustainable chemical industry and reducing exposure to hazardous substances. Key aspects of the work include developing new processes for the industry and developing a toolbox of models and methods for performing risk assessments on chemicals.

August

Speed limits for ships

Are global mandatory speed reductions the solution to climate emissions from shipping? This was the focus of a Lighthouse study conducted by IVL and the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg, which looked at the issue from a Swedish perspective. The answer is far from obvious, but the results suggest that the benefits of significant speed reductions are overestimated. It is possible to save fuel, but speed reductions well below the optimum speed of ships risk increasing fuel consumption instead.

Digitalising the waste sector

Smart robots, sensors, drones and cloud services can help to develop the waste sector. This is the conclusion of a project carried out by IVL and Avfall Sverige. The results are presented in a series of publications intended to inspire and guide the digitalisation of the waste sector by disseminating knowledge, sharing experiences and showcasing good examples. The publications also show different areas of use for the new technology, including at recycling plants.