Glava Energy Center selected as one of seven innovation clusters in national initiative
Glava Energy Center is one of seven innovation clusters receiving funding from the Swedish Energy Agency to accelerate the transition to a smart, sustainable, and resilient energy system. The initiative aims to strengthen collaboration and spread innovations in the energy and climate sector.
An innovation cluster is a network where companies, researchers, and other stakeholders collaborate to find smart solutions that, for example, save energy, reduce emissions, and use fewer resources. Glava Energy Center already works according to this model – with around 90 member companies, a well-established collaboration with Karlstad University, and partnerships with municipalities in Värmland as well as regional actors such as Region Värmland and the County Administrative Board.
More sectors to be integrated into the cluster
The goal of the new project, which runs until the end of 2027, is to broaden the cluster’s scope and integrate more sectors – in particular, actors in electricity, heating, industry, real estate, and digitalisation. This will allow Glava Energy Center to contribute more effectively to optimised and resource-efficient energy use, while also strengthening society’s resilience to disturbances in the energy system.
– A broad sectoral connection is essential to address the major societal challenge of creating a smart, sustainable, resilient, and robust energy system. We will place special emphasis on increasing knowledge and collaboration across a wide range of stakeholders, says Magnus Nilsson, CEO of Glava Energy Center.
Breaking down silos
Throughout the project, needs assessments and stakeholder matchmaking will be carried out to identify and test new technical solutions, business models, and forms of collaboration. The work is guided by current challenges in the energy transition, such as grid capacity shortages, fluctuations in solar and wind power production, and the growing need for societal security.
– This funding allows us to scale up what we do best – bringing sectors together and enabling real collaboration. To succeed with the energy transition, we must move beyond silos. Our goal is to connect electricity, heating, buildings, industry, and digital solutions in ways that make the entire system smarter, more resilient, and more sustainable, says Magnus Nilsson.
About the Swedish Energy Agency’s innovation cluster initiative
This initiative is part of several thematic research programmes run by the Swedish Energy Agency. It forms part of the Agency’s broader efforts to strengthen Sweden’s position in energy innovation and speed up the transition to a fossil-free society.
Read more at the Swedish Energy Agency’s website (in Swedish).
Caption: Aerial view of Glava Energy Center´s test park and office building in Glava.