Energy systems and the electrification of transport, industry and household

Energy systems research at the division of Energy technology, Chalmers University of Technology, aims to speed up the electrification of transport and industry as well as decarbonize material systems to reduce embedded carbon emissions of building and infrastructure

The research focuses on electrification of transport, industry and households as a prime enabler for decarbonizing these sectors. An important aspect is to study how sector coupling can enable efficient integration of variable renewable electricity generation, such as wind and solar power. This requires a cross-sector analysis, including electricity generation, distribution and different forms of end-use.

Thus, flexibility in electricity generation, transmission (including import/export between regions) and in end use in the industry, transport and household sectors is key to an efficient electrification of transport and other sectors.

About the energy systems research group

The energy systems research group is led by Professor Filip Johnsson together with Dr Lisa Göransson and Dr Maria Taljegård.

Filip Johnsson received his PhD in 2002 and is professor in Energy Systems in Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Chalmers University of Technology. Filip Johnsson’s research areas comprise energy systems analysis and different aspects of new thermal conversion systems including Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).

The latter research also includes analysis of fluidized-bed systems with various applications such as combustion, gasification and thermal energy storage. The research on energy systems analysis has an emphasis on the transition of the energy system to comply with climate targets, including how variable renewable electricity generation such as wind power can be integrated in a cost-efficient way.

Filip Johnsson’s research also deals with supply chains from basic materials to end products and services and how the building and construction sector can be transformed to comply with a net zero carbon emission target. Filip Johnsson has published more than 200 peer reviewed papers.

Viaable pathways and solutions to decarbonize the end-use sectors

The overall aim is to identify technically viable pathways and solutions to decarbonize the end-use sectors in a cost-effective manner. Thus, the aim is to provide results which are not only of high academic standard, but also of high policy relevance.

Transport and industry are the main sources of GHG emissions in Sweden, and their transformation will likely require deep electrification, including indirectly through production and the use of hydrogen.

Most low-carbon energy pathways also envision drastically increasing the use of variable renewable electricity generation, driven by decreasing costs of such technologies in combination with increased demand for clean electricity, uncertainty over the future of today’s nuclear reactors, and opportunities to export and import clean electricity between regions such as from Sweden to support Europe’s decarbonization.

Together, these actions will require new solutions and strategies for maintaining the cost-effectiveness, reliability, and competitiveness of the electricity system.

Methods of energy systems research

The energy systems research is centered around techno economic energy systems modeling of Northern Europe including the British Islands. A key feature of the models developed by the research group is that the models are time resolved, to be able to study integration of variable renewable electricity generation and flexibility in end-use sectors.

The research is often carried out in interdisciplinary projects since the success of the energy transition and electrification depends on many different factors such as social acceptance and economy wide effects from the transition. Examples are the two ongoing Mistra research programs Mistra Electrification and Mistra Carbon Exit, both involving several research groups addressing the most important aspects of the transition of the energy and material systems.

Expected impact of the electrification of transport and more

The analysis is designed to catalyze the change that needs to be made to overcome key bottlenecks in the energy transition in Northern Europe by providing critical knowledge for industrial actors and relevant governmental institutions regarding how to identify and prioritize key actions.

More specifically, the research aims at the following impacts, all of which will contribute to solving the strategic problem of climate change:

• The provision of better decisions as to how Europe and Sweden can comply with relevant Climate Policy Framework, through identifying pathways that are technologically, economically, and institutionally feasible, together with the policies they require;
• The presentation of strategies for efficient direct and indirect electrification, sector integration and flexibility as the bases for government policy decisions and industrial strategies;
• Support for strategic planning of new energy infrastructures, including the possible role of IT (smart electricity system) for its efficient utilization;
• Identification of opportunities within various EU initiatives, including the EU Green Deal, through systematic analysis of opportunities arising from the trade of clean electricity, carbon credits and new energy solutions and technologies;
• Wider impact by providing partner research groups with input from different possible pathways obtained from the energy systems modeling to be analysed in a wider context (e.g. within the above mentioned Mistra programs).

Some reflections on Sweden’s energy transition

Sweden is a highly industrial country with large indigenous resources such as iron ore, hydro power, nuclear power, favorable conditions for on- and offshore wind power and forestry derived bioenergy. Thus, it should be possible to meet projections on the need for more electricity where authorities estimate that Swedish electricity demand may double over the next decades, primarily due to electrification of industry (e.g., iron and steel industry) and establishment of new industries, such as battery factories. Sweden should thereby be able to be a forerunner in the energy transition. However, the political rhetoric in Sweden has increasingly been characterized by a polarization of opinions between pro-wind and pro-nuclear power groups which is unfortunate since it hinders decisions on the way forward.

In March 2022, a few weeks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the main Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter published an opinion piece signed by Filip Johnsson and Markus Wråke, CEO of Energiforsk. The article was based on a PM (in Swedish) about increased electricity production up to Year 2030, issued by Mistra Electrification. The PM concludes that Sweden’s potential to increase electricity production by Year 2030 is some 140 TWh, whereby off-shore and on-shore wind generation can contribute with 65 TWh and 52 TWh, respectively. Further capacity is derived from biopower (12 TWh), solar power (10 TWh), and nuclear power through increasing the capacity of two existing nuclear reactors (2 TWh).

Such development is technologically and economically possible, but the main challenge is the permitting processes including gaining social acceptance for electricity generation at new sites. The main potential in the coming years relates to wind power. The situation with polarization is unfortunate because there is no contradiction between wind power and nuclear power – wind power can be built now at competitive cost whereas nuclear power is for later, after Year 2030. The possibilities to expand electricity production identified from the energy systems modeling is promising and society urgently needs more electricity to meet emission reduction targets, in particular from industry and road transportation.

The war in Ukraine is a tragedy, with terrible effects seen in Ukraine. A possible implication for Sweden and the rest of Europe is an increased need for security of supply when it comes to energy and electricity.

Examples of recent works from the research group

1. Savvidou, G., Johnsson, F. Material Requirements, Circularity Potential and Embodied Emissions Associated with Wind Energy (2023) Sustainable Production and Consumption, 40, pp. 471-487. DOI: 10.1016/j.spc.2023.07.012.
2. Jakobsson, N., Hartvigsson, E., Taljegard, M., Johnsson, F. Substation Placement for Electric Road Systems (2023) Energies, 16 (10), art. no. 4217, DOI: 10.3390/en16104217.
3. Hartvigsson, E., Nyholm, E., Johnsson, F. 57115541700;56439832700;7006817882; Does the current electricity grid support a just energy transition? Exploring social and economic dimensions of grid capacity for residential solar photovoltaic in Sweden (2023) Energy Research and Social Science, 97, art. no. 102990, DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2023.102990
4. Karlsson, S., Normann, F., Odenberger, M., Johnsson, F. Modeling the development of a carbon capture and transportation infrastructure for Swedish industry (2023) International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 124, art. no. 103840, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijggc.2023.103840
5. Lundblad, T., Taljegard, M., Johnsson, F. Centralized and decentralized electrolysis-based hydrogen supply systems for road transportation – A modeling study of current and future costs (2023) International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 48 (12), pp. 4830-4844. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.10.242.
6. Guío-Pérez, D.C., Martinez Castilla, G., Pallarès, D., Thunman, H., Johnsson, F. Thermochemical Energy Storage with Integrated District Heat Production–A Case Study of Sweden (2023) Energies, 16 (3), art. no. 1155, DOI: 10.3390/en16031155.
7. Ullmark, J., Göransson, L., Johnsson, F. Frequency reserves and inertia in the transition to future electricity systems (2023) Energy Systems, DOI: 10.1007/s12667-023-00568-1
8. Öberg, S., Odenberger, M., Johnsson, F. The cost dynamics of hydrogen supply in future energy systems – A techno-economic study (2022) Applied Energy, 328, art. no. 120233, DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.120233.
9. Beiron, J., Göransson, L., Normann, F., Johnsson, F. Flexibility provision by combined heat and power plants – An evaluation of benefits from a plant and system perspective (2022) Energy Conversion and Management: X, 16, art. no. 100318, DOI: 10.1016/j.ecmx.2022.100318
10. Toktarova, A., Göransson, L., Thunman, H., Johnsson, F. Thermochemical recycling of plastics – Modeling the implications for the electricity system (2022) Journal of Cleaner Production, 374, art. no. 133891, DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.133891.
11. Cañete Vela, I., Berdugo Vilches, T., Berndes, G., Johnsson, F., Thunman, H. Co-recycling of natural and synthetic carbon materials for a sustainable circular economy (2022) Journal of Cleaner Production, 365, art. no. 132674, DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132674
12. Toktarova, A., Walter, V., Göransson, L., Johnsson, F. Interaction between electrified steel production and the north European electricity system (2022) Applied Energy, 310, art. no. 118584, DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.118584.
13. Karlsson, I., Rootzén, J., Johnsson, F., Erlandsson, M. Achieving net-zero carbon emissions in construction supply chains – A multidimensional analysis of residential building systems (2021) Developments in the Built Environment, 8, art. no. 100059, DOI: 10.1016/j.dibe.2021.100059.
14. Zetterberg, L., Johnsson, F., Möllersten, K. Incentivizing BECCS—A Swedish Case Study (2021) Frontiers in Climate, 3, art. no. 685227, DOI: 10.3389/fclim.2021.685227.
15. Heinisch, V., Göransson, L., Odenberger, M., Johnsson, F. The impact of limited electricity connection capacity on energy transitions in cities (2021) Smart Energy, 3, art. no. 100041, DOI: 10.1016/j.segy.2021.100041.
16. Taljegard, M., Göransson, L., Odenberger, M., Johnsson, F. To represent electric vehicles in electricity systems modelling—aggregated vehicle representation vs. Individual driving profiles (2021) Energies, 14 (3), art. no. 539, DOI: 10.3390/en14030539.