About LOKEN
The future energy supply in Värmland is a major societal challenge. Municipalities, businesses, and households in the region are at risk of facing electricity shortages. The LOKEN project aims to increase the knowledge and strengthen the planning and decision-making capacity of public and private stakeholders in Värmland. It promotes the smart production of renewable electricity and the efficient use of systems and grids.
What will the project lead to?
Initiatives in Eleven Municipalities
The project’s activities involve around 40 project partners across eleven municipalities: Filipstad, Forshaga, Kil, Hammarö, Arvika, Sunne, Eda, Karlstad, Grums, Kristinehamn, and Munkfors. Participants include municipalities, energy companies, real estate firms, energy-intensive industries, businesses, and organizations.
Innovative energy solutions will be explored based on each participant’s situation and needs — for example, solutions for:
- Production
- Flexibility
- Storage
- Sustainable neighborhoods
- Energy communities
A New Approach: Local Energy Management
In five of the municipalities — Eda, Arvika, Grums, Munkfors, and Kil — a new collaborative model for proactive local energy management will be developed.
Within the project, local and regional energy scenarios will also be developed to support decision-making at the local level.
Social Sustainability in the Energy Transition
The project will also strengthen the capacity for insights and actions regarding the connection between the energy transition and social sustainability — including issues such as gender equality and inclusion.
A New Regional Collaboration Platform in Energy
LOKEN includes RESKU — the Resource Network for Sustainable Energy Systems at Karlstad University. RESKU brings together leading researchers with diverse expertise in energy and sustainability, many with strong international backgrounds.
This forum enables collaboration between Karlstad University, Glava Energy Center, the private sector, and public stakeholders on energy-related issues.
The researchers contribute knowledge in areas such as renewable energy systems, AI and machine learning, energy communities, energy leadership, and energy scenario planning.
RESKU also provides research-based expertise in business models, place development, and social sustainability.
How the Project is Structured
The project consists of five work packages with various sub-activities:
- WP1: Project Management
- WP2: Knowledge Sharing and Research
- WP3: Developing Local Energy Management
- WP4: Developing Energy Cases
- WP5: Dissemination of Results
All activities are carried out in close cooperation with researchers at Karlstad University, giving the project a strong foundation in knowledge and science.
Project Overview
- Project period: January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2026
- Main financiers: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Region Värmland
- Total budget: SEK 20 million
- Project coordinator: Glava Energy Center
- Project partner: Karlstad University
- Project manager: Eva Lingwall (see Contact)
Participating Stakeholders
(list continues unchanged in English as proper names are not translated)
- Antiphon AB
- Arvika Gjuteri AB
- Arvika Kraft AB
- Arvika kommun
- Billerud Gruvöns bruk AB
- Coompanion Ekonomisk förening
- Eda kommun
- Eda Bostads AB
- Filipstads Energinät AB
- Forshaga kommun
- Forshaga Energi AB
- Forshagabostäder AB
- Fortum AB
- Grums kommun
- Hammarö Energi AB
- Hilmer Andersson AB
- Hypermat AB
- IUC Stål & Verkstad
- Karlstads Energi AB
- Karlstads Pastorat
- Karlstads Stift
- Kils Energi AB
- Kils kommun
- Kristinehamns Energi AB
- Moelven Edanesågen AB
- Munkfors kommun
- Munkfors Energi AB
- Munkforsbostäder AB
- Rottneros Bruk Sunne AB
- Solar Bank Åmotsfors AB
- Stora Enso Grums AB
- Swegon AB
- Teknik i Väst
- Thermia AB
- Voestalpine Munkfors AB
- Volvo CE Arvikaverken
- Westra Wermlands Sparbank
- Wipab AB
- Årjängs Bostads AB