On the 8th of June 2009, 8 students from MSc Clean Technology from the University of Newcastle were taken on an all expenses paid trip to Stockholm by Vattenfall, a Swedish utilities company. The students attended Vattenfall’s “Making Energy Clean” conference, part of their “Energy and Climate Week” celebrations to mark their 100th year of operation.
The conference focused on current global issues to do with energy production and climate change. Many high profile individuals took part in the conference day, including Maud Olofsson, the Deputy Prime Minster and Minister for Energy and Enterprise for Sweden and the President of Vattenfall, Lars G. Josefsson. Many issues were presented and discussed at the conference but the Deputy Prime Minster was confident that tackling climate change was a golden opportunity, stating that Sweden have made many efforts to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) whilst still increasing their gross domestic product (GDP). Reduction in GHG emissions and introduction of cleaner technologies is likely to be more of a challenge in other countries than it has been in Sweden, however investment in this sector is likely to create millions of new jobs and therefore will play a key role in future economic growth.
Vattenfall themselves aim to be CO2 neutral by 2050 and are currently operating and developing various low carbon technologies such as wind power, energy from biomass, wave power, nuclear and carbon capture and storage (CCS). They are also collaborating with Volvo to develop electronic vehicles.
published on: 22nd June 2009