Discover an extra resourceful region - Västerbotten Investment Agency

Environmental technology: Cutting edge
technology in the midst of an emerging
market
Västerbotten has a growing cleantech cluster with advanced
R&D and a number of successful recycling and environmental
technology enterprises. Some of the areas of specialization are
soil remediation, railway decontamination, sustainable building,
forest ecology and the recovery of metals from electronic
scrap.
The powerful expansion of the mining, metallurgy and pulp
and paper industries ensure that regional markets for environmental
technology are kept bubbling. Geographically close to
the mining and offshore industries in Norway, Finnish Lapland
and the Murmansk/Kola Peninsula region, Västerbotten also
provides an excellent base for the emerging markets for environmental
know-how, clean up projects and new decontamination
techniques.
Renewable energy: World leading
development of biomass and biofuels
The heavily forested Västerbotten region is well known for its
competence in forestry, wood technology and biofuels. Raw
materials from the sawmills and forests are being used in
unique processes in some of the world’s most efficient torrefaction
and CHP plants. Our world-class R&D institutes specialize
in combustion methods, biocomposite technology, forest
biotechnology and the development of new biofuels.
With extensive investments, cutting-egde research and a wide
range of biofuel and bioenergy related businesses, Västerbotte n
is generating an ever-growing need of developers, service companies,
consultants and environmental experts.
Wind power on the rise
With excellent geographical conditions, a low population
density, a leading research center for cold climate engineering
and a long time experience from hydro-power production,
Västerbotten is estimated by the Swedish Energy Agency to
hold the best potential for land based wind power in Sweden.
The future for wind energy in the Nordic market holds huge
potential. Heavy investments are currently being made, and
as the development proceeds, business opportunities for new
manufacturers and suppliers of wind power equipment will
continue to grow. Development of new de-icing solutions and
higher towers, as well as services from experienced consultants
will also be needed.
The next generation’s solar power
This region hosts Sweden’s biggest cluster of solar related companies!
It is a breeding ground for the development of the next
generation of solar concentrators, as well as research on PV and
solar thermal in harsh conditions.
The special conditions of the arctic sunlight with clear skies,
the extensive know-how in solar energy technologies and the
excellent logistics and infrastructure for export, make Västerbotten
an exceptional starting point for companies aiming to
meet the increasing demand for PV and solar/thermal energy at
a low cost.
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