Leaders call for faster hydrogen rollout at Qarlbo Energy seminar in Almedalen

At Qarlbo Energy's seminar during Almedalen Week, leaders from industry, energy and politics discussed what it will take to decarbonise heavy-duty transport. A clear message emerged: battery-electric solutions will be fundamental to the transition, and hydrogen will be needed as a complement – particularly for heavy and long-distance transport.

From Qarlbo, founder Conni Jonsson and Michel Thomas, CEO of Qarlbo Energy, took part alongside Martin Lundstedt (CEO of Volvo Group), Anna Borg (CEO of Vattenfall), Romina Pourmokhtari (Minister for Climate and the Environment), Rickard Nordin (Spokesperson for Energy Policy, Centre Party), Eric Lundberg (CEO of ICA Sweden) and Jonas Hagelqvist (CEO of The Swedish Confederation of Transport Enterprises).

Volvo Group CEO Martin Lundstedt described how hydrogen has moved significantly closer to commercial deployment, while pointing to cost and scale as critical factors for the market.

– Hydrogen used to always be ten years away, now we are significantly closer. When we reach around SEK 65–70 per kilo of hydrogen, I believe this will really take off, said Martin Lundstedt.

Vattenfall CEO Anna Borg highlighted both hydrogen’s role in heavy transport and Sweden’s strong position in producing it competitively.

– Hydrogen will play an important role in parts of heavy transport that are not suitable for electrification. Sweden and the Nordic region are also exceptionally well suited for hydrogen production, as electricity prices here are much lower than in most other parts of Europe, said Anna Borg.

The discussion also focused on how public policy can help create demand for new technologies. Rickard Nordin, energy policy spokesperson for the Centre Party, argued that the public sector should use its considerable purchasing power to accelerate the transition.

“The state should be the first customer for new technology. Today, we are often the last. It shouldn't really be ICA that has to test the hydrogen truck, the state should be doing it. With SEK 900 billion in public procurement, that represents enormous purchasing power,” said Rickard Nordin.

For Qarlbo founder Conni Jonsson, the question is not what the transition requires, but what it costs to wait.

– That is why we are here today, to bring together industry, the energy sector and politics. Because we now need to make the decisions that are crucial for our future. Everyone has a role to play. We can’t wait any longer. The price we pay for every delay is something future generations will have to live with, said Conni Jonsson.

The seminar, Decarbonising heavy transport – electrification, hydrogen and Europe’s competitiveness, was held during Almedalen Week on 23 June, and was one of the most visited seminars at Arena Energi.

Watch the full seminar here.