Vattenfall’s new biofuel heat plant Carpe Futurum in Uppsala, Sweden, has been inaugurated and entered into commercial operation. The new plant will reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 200 ktCO2/y  compared with previous operation using peat and other fossil fuels.  The plant can be fired with wood chips, recycled biomass and bark in various combinations and can be operated using the three fuels individually or in different mixtures, providing high fuel flexibility.

The plant is planned to halve the climate footprint for Uppsala’s approximately 170,000 residents who are connected to Vattenfall’s district heating grid in the city. 

“Carpe Futurum is a milestone in Vattenfall’s work to phase out fossil fuels in its Swedish heat operation by 2025 and to reach net zero emissions within the entire company by 2040. The new facility is a major step to replace peat with new fossil-free heat production that is based entirely on renewable and recycled fuels,” said Ulrika Jardfelt, head of Vattenfall Business Area Heat.

Carpe Futurum is situated in Vattenfall’s main heat plant in Uppsala, Boländerna, 70 kilometres north of Stockholm, Sweden. The new biofuel plant has a heat capacity of 110 MW and is an essential part of a transformation programme, at a cost of around €300m, to phase out fossil fuels from the heat production in Uppsala. The heat is distributed to around 76,000 households and heating customers in Vattenfall’s district heating network.

Erik Pelling, Mayor of Uppsala, said “Uppsala welcomes Vattenfall’s new heating plant that is completely in line with Uppsala’s climate protocol and the city’s goal of being fossil-free by 2030. We look forward to continued initiatives that can reduce carbon dioxide emissions and contribute to Uppsala becoming climate-positive by 2050.”

The construction of Carpe Futurum began in 2018 and has covered more than 855,000 working hours.