Victor Sunnliden is the inward investment manager of Business Region Örebro.

How do you attract a complex, large-scale circular economy industrial investment? How do you do it well? On 36 hectares, amidst 4 000 tons of protein and 15 000 tons of vegetables in a greenhouse, some 220 people will be working to reuse the industrial warmth to create 50 GWh of energy and with that save nearly 20 000 tons of CO2 going up in the sky. 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are met with what has been called the greenest industrial project of Sweden (Dagens Industri). 

Circular economy and creating shared value in action 

A vast greenhouse will be heated with residue warmth from a paper mill, resulting in locally grown tomatoes and a land-based shrimp farm. This goes beyond the ground principle of circular economy – of using residue materials to create something new (waste-to-x). This creates locally produced healthy food with a minimal carbon footprint, giving the project a compound effect. It is a win for all parties concerned where profit, planet and people all get a fair share. 

Making projects as this happen sounds like a dream to many municipalities, big or small, whether they are into food production or otherwise. Getting multiple actors together and finding the funding is a challenge not to be underestimated. Regenergy Frövi is a co-operation between Lindesberg municipality and Wa3rm, Local Harvest, Linde Energi, protein farmer, Regenergy FRÖVI and Business Region Örebro. The good news for the planet is that altogether 11 such projects are in plan across Sweden. The funding comes from a fund that is in turn backed by pension funds, among others. 

Victor will talk about the role of investment promotion professionals and how to bring to life a circular economy in a public-private partnership.