Navigating the Green Transition: An analysis of EU policy trajectories and their implications for Gothenburg’s industrial future

Sammanfattning

Gothenburg is an industrial city with a multitude of industries, some of which areheavily dependent on fossil fuels. With the European Union (EU) signalling a phaseout of fossil fuels, there is a need to expand net-zero-emission energy sources. ForGothenburg to transition, there is a need for reliable net-zero-emission energy. Fromthe EU, there is a push to deploy net-zero technologies (NZTs), which are different technologies with the purpose of phasing out fossil fuels or mitigating emissions.Hence, the aim of this study is to propose policy recommendations based on leveragepoints for Gothenburg’s transition towards a net-zero energy sector, in alignmentwith the Green Deal Industrial Plan. To achieve this, the following research questions have been established:1. What are the policy signals from the EU conveyed in the Green Deal IndustryPlan (GDIP) and Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA), on how to implement NZTs?2. What enablers and barriers influence the effective implementation of NZTsin Gothenburg, considering industrial, infrastructural and geographical conditions?3. Which NZTs are most viable in a Gothenburg context?The analysis of policy signals showed that the EU frameworks focus on implementing NZTs overall, without favouring any specific technologies. Based on the analysisof the Gothenburg conditions, the city is viable for solar power, wind power, biofuelsand batteries. Based on the findings in this report, we propose the following policyrecommendations for the city:(a) Address permitting times and work to improve the permitting process to accelerate the deployment rate of NTZs.(b) Sustainability requirements for public procurement.(c) Utilise the high density of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics(STEM) personnel in the population.(d) Keep producing biofuels for city-owned companies and support the transitionto biofuels at the refineries.(e) Facilitate collaboration within the industry.(f) Technologies to invest in: Solar and wind power, biofuels, and batteries. Explore the feasibility of e-fuels further.This thesis has identified multiple areas of further research, for example, broadeningthe scope of policies and technologies. By increasing the scope, it is possible tobetter understand the energy system and the future of NZTs in Gothenburg.