Local Energy Management Värmland

The three-year project Local Energy Management Värmland (LOKEN) aims to support the energy transition in municipalities in Värmland, test smart energy solutions, and create a new regional collaboration platform for academia, business, and public actors. Glava Energy Center leads the project together with Karlstad University as a partner. The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and Region Värmland.

What will the project lead to?

Efforts in eleven municipalities

The project's activities involve around 30 project partners in a total of eleven municipalities: Filipstad, Forshaga, Kil, Hammarö, Arvika, Sunne, Eda, Karlstad, Grums, Kristinehamn, Munkfors. Among the project participants are municipalities, energy companies, real estate firms, energy-intensive industries, businesses, and organizations. Innovative energy solutions will be explored according to the project participants' situations and needs - for example, solutions for:

• Production
• Flexibility
• Storage
• Sustainable neighborhoods
• Energy communities

New work approach: local energy management

In five of the municipalities - Eda, Arvika, Grums, Munkfors, and Kil - a new form of proactive local energy management collaboration will be developed. Within the project framework, local and regional energy scenarios will also be developed that can serve as decision-making support for local energy management.

LOKEN sets the direction

The overall goal of the project is to support the energy transition in several municipalities in Värmland, which can, in turn, motivate and indicate the direction for more Värmland municipalities. Participating municipalities thus act as models for other municipalities.

News article about the project

Social sustainability in the energy transition

The project is also intended to lead to an enhanced capacity for insights and actions concerning the energy transition's connection to social sustainability and issues such as gender equality and inclusion.

New regional collaboration platform in energy

In addition to this, a new regional collaboration platform in energy matters, Resource Network for Sustainable Energy Systems at Karlstad University (RESKU), will be created. At this platform, the university, Glava Energy Center, business, and public actors can collaborate on energy matters.

How is the project implemented?

The project consists of five work packages with sub-activities:

• Work Package 1: Project Management
• Work Package 2: Knowledge dissemination and research
• Work Package 3: Develop local energy management
• Work Package 4: Develop energy cases
• Work Package 5: Results dissemination

All project activities include researchers from Karlstad University, providing the project with a strong knowledge base.

Key facts about the project

• Project period: January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2026
• Main funders: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Region Värmland
• Total budget: 19.5 million SEK
• Project coordinator: Glava Energy Center
• Project partner: Karlstad University
• Project leader: TBA

Participating actors

(List of various entities involved in the project)

• Arvika Kommun
• Karlstad Energi AB
• Arvika Kraft AB
• Volvo CE Arvikaverken
• Kils Kommun
• Arvika Gjuteri AB
• Kils Energi AB
• Moelven Edanesågen AB
• Grums Kommun
• Thermia AB
• Hammarö Energi AB
• Fortum AB
• Karlstad Energi AB
• Voest Alpine Munkfors AB
• Munkfors Kommun
• Karlstad Stift
• Munkfors Energi AB
• Karlstad Pastorat
• Munkforsbostäder AB
• Wipab AB
• Forshagabostäder AB
• Triton Valsteknik
• Teknik i Väst
• Billerud Korsnäs Grums AB
• Filipstads Energinät AB
• Stora Enso Grums AB
• Kristinehamns Energi AB
• Rottneros Bruk Sunne AB
• Eda Bostads AB
• Coompanion Ekonomisk förening