Stories

Please tell us about yourself.

My name is Sune Eriksson, and I am the Energy & Environmental Manager at Hembla. I have worked with energy issues for 30 years.

What developments you have seen in the past 30 years?

We have many different developments within the last 30 years.

I have been involved in the early computerisation of the property market. I also see a big future for the IoT sector and self-learning systems that can control our heating plants.

What advantages would a remote control system give you and your colleagues?

With a SCADA system, you get a better overview of your facilities and you do not have to visit them as often. It also enables self-learning, so we save a lot of energy and properties can be optimised.

Why is Hembla focusing so much on geoenergy?

We focus on geoenergy, because we see big gains for the environment. We want to reduce our carbon footprint and we also see financial gains.

What are the biggest risks with geoenergy?

The risks with geoenergy are not so big today, but it is important that you have a good design and that you have a company that knows its thing when it comes to planning the project.

Why have large property owners focused so much on district heating compared to detached homes where the usage of geoenergy has doubled?

The industry has had a hard time coming up with a basic product that you can just put in place and run like the EBox that MegaWatt Solutions has.

Why have you chosen to work with MegaWatt Solutions?

We need a contractor to help us all the way as well, and MegaWatt Solutions has done come close to that I think.

What do you think makes the EBox unique?

The unique thing about the Ebox is that it is a unit that is finished and tested in a factory. It is always much better to build things in factories.

It is always better to build things in factories, because then you can test them in a proper environment with test equipment and the right materials. It gives you the right environment to work in.

What fears do property owners have with respect to geoenergy?

Others can be fearful. But I think the big thing is that it is a fairly large investment and people are worried that it will not pay off, and that it will not work well enough. I have worked with this technology for 30 years, and I am fascinated by the technology and think it works very well. I also think that the industry has matured over the years, and you get a much more stable product nowadays.

Which energy source do you think will dominate in the future?

I believe heat pump technology will clearly dominate in the future.

What are your thoughts on biofuels?

Biofuels are a form of combustion as well, which is not great when we're talking CO2-emissions.

What is Hembla doing to reach its environmental targets?

Hembla has a lot to do when it comes to reaching our environmental goals. There is a lot to do both within Hembla and nationally, and also internationally to achieve the Paris Agreement. The future looks bright, but we have a lot of work ahead of us.