The family business that dares to build the first filling stations for hydrogen gas in Norrland

The current energy- and fuel issue is topped by concerns about rising prices, at the same time as energy shortages in southern Sweden create a crying need. A large energy supplement is simply needed but the energy must also be sustainably produced and must not cost too much either. The equation may seem difficult to work out, not least when the investment calculation is reviewed.

The transport sector accounts for a large part of Sweden’s carbon dioxide emissions and thus also contributes to the widely discussed climate problem. There is a lot of talk about the need for the industry to change and become circular. It is something that is now about to happen in connection with large investments being planned in northern Sweden, not least in areas such as battery manufacturing and the production of fossil-free steel.

Alternative fuels are the solution

It is easy to see the great industrial progress thanks to the scale of the investments, but the transformation of the transport industry is just as important. Not just for Sweden, but for all of Europe and the world. Alternative fuels are the solution.

“All major car manufacturers agree that electrification of the personal car fleet and in the next step also the heavy traffic is the future. But much more renewable energy will be needed to make the change possible in the long run. Several solutions will be needed that together form a whole that drives the green transition of the transport sector”, says Roland Skoog, CEO of Skoogs Energi in Piteå.

Another solution that is currently being developed in parallel with electrification is hydrogen as a fuel in both cars and trucks. To be able to buy a hydrogen car and supply it with fuel, filling stations are needed. The challenge lies in the fact that no one wants to build on speculation, i.e. invest large sums without any guarantee to get a return on the capital.

Doing what no one else dares

The family business Skoogs Bränsle is now doing exactly what no one else has dared to do. They are building not just one, but two new filling stations for hydrogen gas in northern Sweden. One station is being built in Arvidsjaur and the other in Piteå. This is the home area of the Skoog family, and according to Roland, it therefore feels extra exciting that the development starts right here.

“We know that Sveaskog and many other large industries in our region are adjusting their transports. We hope that with our investment we can contribute to more people choosing to take the step and invest in sustainable fuels, but we have no guarantees. We lack ready-made customer agreements but are still building. We do this because we believe in the green transition and we believe in hydrogen gas as an important part of it”, says Roland Skoog.

Looking to develop all possible tracks

Skoogs is a family-owned business group with a long history in Piteå, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The various companies that are part of the Skoogs Group conduct operations in the energy, fuel, hotel, restaurant and real estate industries. Through acquisitions and participation in a couple of other companies, hydrogen now also forms an important part of the Skoogs Group. Roland says:

“We have an active dialogue with several industrial players who might be interested in hydrogen as fuel and hope to form some sort of collaboration with H2 Green Steel and Hybrit. We are still a small producer of hydrogen gas. The larger companies will have much more power to drive change and we want to lay the groundwork for future collaborations where we could probably build filling stations in connection with their production plants”.

Solar energy and wind power are also of interest to the Skoogs Group, which has owned two wind turbines in Piteå for just over two years.

“There is no doubt that there will be even more focus on energy issues in the near future. We seek to develop all conceivable tracks that can benefit the green transition in both industry and the transport sector”, says Roland Skoog in conclusion.