A joint effort between Swedish and American green companies, the Swedish embassy in Washington, D.C., and Business Sweden is supporting the rollout of several green solutions to create a “low-carbon economy.” The Sweden-U.S. Green Transition Initiative (GTI) aims to sequester carbon emissions in the United States and Sweden.
The GTI was launched in March 2022 at The Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center and Europe Center. It opened its Washington, D.C., office in November of the same year. Representatives from the GTI told The Business Download it will “continue to enhance its outreach and impact, promoting sustainable solutions across various sectors” that are beneficial for the American and Swedish economies.
Swedish companies are now working in the U.S. to help with the green transition thanks to several federal policies encouraging cleantech development.
The objectives are to contribute to greenhouse gas reduction in the U.S. and Sweden, gain more sustainable technologies from Sweden in the U.S., create a strong platform to drive the development of new cleantech, and increase U.S. green investment in Sweden.
A recent project is already starting to show the potential of this effort. Finnish mobility system company Kempower, with its North American headquarters in Durham, North Carolina, received six new electric car charging stations installed with electric construction equipment provided by Husqvarna, Volvo, and Atlas Copco.
“The project not only proved the feasibility of zero-exhaust emission job sites but also highlighted their potential for a positive impact with broader adoption in the United States,” an official release on the project said.
Photo Courtesy Scott Blake
“The most prominent benefits of electric machines are the elimination of emissions and the significant reduction in noise and vibration,” Dr. Ray Gallant, vice president of Sustainability and Productivity Services at Volvo Construction Equipment, said in a statement.
Beyond traditional construction applications, Volvo compact electric machines have been used in indoor demolition, agricultural and food production settings, landscaping, zoos, wineries, ski resorts, and more, company officials told The Business Download via email.
“We measure our value chain greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with the GHG protocol and guidelines provided by the Science Based Targets initiative,” Adam Björk, sustainability director, Husqvarna Construction, said in an email.
“Since most of these CO2 emissions arise during product use, our focus is to enable customers to reduce emissions through the transition to battery and corded equipment, digital solutions, and by improving energy efficiency across our product range.”
“Today, over 40% of Husqvarna Construction’s solutions are powered by electricity, either battery or corded,” he continued. “So, not every application has an electric alternative yet, but we do have a wide range of electric solutions available and are committed to further development.”
Photo Courtesy Husqvarna Construction North America
The initiative will utilize pilot programs, roundtable discussions, and seminars to show the potential environmental impact this collaboration will fuel. Construction remains the focus industry since it still uses gasoline and carbon-heavy practices.
“We have almost 100% fossil-free electricity production in Sweden,” Urban Ahlin, Sweden’s ambassador to the U.S., said in a video about the campaign. “We have a population that is very eager to innovate and who likes new solutions.”
U.S. capital could significantly increase the capabilities of Swedish companies’ innovations and strengthen their presence in the U.S. The federal government has stressed that it wants to be carbon neutral by 2050, and moves like this show a willingness to work with outside partners to get there.
“Sweden ranks among the top foreign investors in the U.S., having invested over $97 billion in 2022, making it the 10th largest foreign investor despite a relatively small population,” GTI explained.
“This investment supports more than 379,000 jobs across the United States, underscoring the robust economic ties between the two nations.”
“By enhancing collaboration in key sectors like electromobility, renewable energy, and green building technologies, increased investment will not only stimulate job creation and economic growth but also significantly contribute to both countries’ climate action goals,” GTI continued.
“Projects like this are critical in supporting global climate initiatives such as the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement, which aim to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050,” Tomi Ristimäki, CEO of Kempower, said in a statement.
“The successful implementation of electric construction equipment in Durham serves as a model for future projects worldwide, demonstrating that sustainable practices can lead to significant environmental benefits,” he continued. “Our commitment to these initiatives is unwavering, and we look forward to furthering our efforts in creating a greener future.”
