Green Greener is a startup built on the idea of creating connections and collaborations between investors and projects within the energy transition. Ulf Andersson, CEO and founder, aims to build a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable society—for everyone. A society where everyone has access to green energy.
Ulf is an engineer with a background in technology and innovation. His career began at Sony Ericsson, followed by Blackberry. As the telecom industry underwent significant changes, he decided to switch paths. He began exploring new opportunities and saw great potential in the energy sector.
Finding a New Direction: Sustainable Energy
— I like finding solutions. I realized that I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the energy market, says Ulf.
Ulf started digging deep to acquire knowledge.
— Above all, I wanted to understand the revenue side. How can green alternatives compete with fossil fuels? That’s a key question.
Just before the Paris Agreement became a reality, Ulf decided to contribute to the energy transition in a tangible way. He came up with the idea of becoming a co-owner of a wind farm. After scouting locations in Skåne, he found a park that was not yet operational. Together with others, he invested in a wind farm with medium-sized turbines, 120 meters high.
— It felt exciting, says Ulf. A year later, I joined another wind farm.
Together, the wind farms in which Ulf is a co-owner produce 33 GWh. An apartment consumes about 5,000 kWh of electricity per year, while a house uses around 10,000 kWh per year.
Deepening Knowledge in Renewable Sources
Ulf then delved deeper into the challenges that arise when transitioning to renewable energy sources, particularly concerning energy storage and cost efficiency.
— Solar and wind are great, says Ulf, but to integrate a large share of renewable energy into the energy system, solar and wind need to be complemented with energy storage.
Solar and wind energy generate power intermittently, depending on weather conditions. Energy storage is needed to ensure availability during times of low production.
— I started thinking more about how energy can be stored efficiently.
Discovering an Interest in Hydrogen
What caught Ulf’s attention was hydrogen, one of the most promising solutions for large-scale storage.
— Hydrogen is an energy carrier that can be produced with renewable electricity through electrolysis, which involves splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen.
To achieve high efficiency, the residual heat from the process can be utilized in, for example, a district heating network.
— Hydrogen can be used as fuel for vehicles, generating electricity, and as a raw material in industrial processes. It can store energy over long periods and on a large scale. It can be produced locally and generates no emissions other than water. This makes hydrogen a key player in a future climate-neutral economy.
Flexible Hydrogen Production Strengthens the Energy System
Hydrogen production is flexible and can be adjusted according to electricity supply.
— We can produce hydrogen when there is a surplus of electricity and pause production when there is a shortage, says Ulf.
This flexibility allows for more efficient use of renewable energy.
— Since we can regulate production based on demand, fewer hours of stored energy are needed to achieve the required effect, Ulf explains.
Renewable energy and hydrogen production benefit each other. Renewable energy reduces the electricity cost for hydrogen production, while hydrogen helps balance the power grid and stabilize electricity prices.
— Additionally, the oxygen generated in the process can be used in wastewater treatment plants, reducing their electricity consumption.
The “Hydrogen in the Tank” Project
Since founding Green Greener, Ulf has participated in projects exploring where and how hydrogen production can best be integrated into existing infrastructure for energy and cost efficiency.
The latest project initiated by Ulf and Kraftringen is Hydrogen in the Tank (Vätgas i Tanken) for Climate Neutrality 2030.
— The goal has been to create a cost-effective and secure value chain for hydrogen production. We set concrete and ambitious objectives, says Ulf. We explored the possibilities of establishing hydrogen production in Skåne, focusing on the transformation of the transport sector.
Participants in the project included Kraftringen, Novowind, Modity, VA Syd, and Lund University Faculty of Engineering. Municipalities, transport companies, refueling stations, and public transport operators also participated in focus and reference groups.
An Optimal Value Chain
— The project has demonstrated that it is technically and economically feasible to produce hydrogen even in SE4, the electricity area in southern Sweden, for transport and industry at a reasonable price, says Ulf.
The participants worked on optimizing every step of the process, from production to distribution. The goal: maximizing revenue and minimizing costs. This was achieved through careful planning of when and what to produce and sell.
The project examined two types of locations in detail: one with access to a local gas network and district heating, and another at a wastewater treatment plant that could benefit from oxygen in its purification process and hydrogen for methanation, thus producing e-fuel emethane.
— The purpose of the Hydrogen in the Tank project has been to make hydrogen production feasible, says Ulf.
Making Hydrogen Production Possible
For it to be viable to produce hydrogen, a stable demand at a reasonable price is essential.
— Flexibility, cross-sectoral connections, and additional revenue streams beyond hydrogen sales are key factors in offering a lower price for hydrogen.
The price of hydrogen and e-fuels must also be reasonable. This is possible if the production facility and hydrogen demand are sufficiently large. Hydrogen production and demand also need to develop simultaneously.
— Now we know that hydrogen production is feasible in Skåne. The next step is to deepen discussions with potential customers in transport and industry, says Ulf. We will also explore who should be part of a consortium to invest in production, storage, and distribution.
Municipalities and regions can contribute by forming groups of companies with transport needs to kickstart hydrogen initiatives.
Skåne’s Strong Potential for Hydrogen
— Skåne has excellent conditions to become a hub for hydrogen production, says Ulf. This is due to our strategic location, industrial needs, and strong research environments.
Skåne is a key transit hub for both electricity and transport.
— This creates opportunities for both hydrogen and e-fuel production to replace fossil fuels like natural gas and methanol.
As a strong agricultural region, Skåne also produces a significant amount of biogenic carbon dioxide.
— Unlike fossil CO₂, biogenic CO₂ is part of the natural cycle and can be used to produce e-fuels such as emethane and emethanol. This strengthens biogas production and contributes to a more circular energy system.
Currently, Skåne has higher electricity prices than northern Sweden and large price fluctuations.
— Hydrogen production can play a key role in balancing the power grid, stabilizing electricity prices, and making the region more attractive for investments in renewable energy.
With strong research and innovation environments, including Lund University, MAX IV, ESS, Ideon Science Park, and companies in the region, we also have access to cutting-edge expertise and technology development in hydrogen and energy storage.
— If Skåne invests in hydrogen and flexible electricity consumption, we can reduce dependence on imports and become more self-sufficient.
Green Greener’s Next Steps
Ulf has extensive knowledge of how to find the best locations for hydrogen facilities, investors, and technology providers.
With projects like Hydrogen in the Tank and other initiatives, Ulf Andersson hopes not only to accelerate the energy transition but also to inspire more people to participate—from local projects in Skåne to global solutions for a sustainable future.
— The core of our business is to realize energy projects by connecting small and large actors and optimizing every step of the value chain, says Ulf. We want to help ensure that renewable energy becomes an economically viable option for more people.
Do you need to transition your transport, raw materials, or backup power to fossil-free alternatives? Or are you interested in investing in any part of the renewable energy value chain, including batteries, hydrogen, and e-fuels? Contact Ulf Andersson, CEO, Green Greener.
