In Sweden, the municipal board of Växjö Municipality has announced that it has decided to pause work on the bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) project at the municipal energy utility Växjö Energi AB (VEAB) Sandviksverket biomass-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plant. The decision means that ongoing work is interrupted, that no new commitments are made, and that the project is put on hold indefinitely.
In recent years, Växjö Energi, together with Växjö Municipality, has investigated both the technical and business conditions for bioenergy with carbon dioxide capture and storage (BECCS) at its Sandviksverket biomass-fired CHP plant.
The investigations thus far show that the carbon capture technology is possible, but also that the project is associated with significant uncertainties.
The conditions for moving on to the next phase – design for a possible investment decision – are considered to be too uncertain. The financial risks are great, and there is continued uncertainty about which support may be relevant.
Continuing with the project involves far too great a financial risk for Växjö Municipality. There are too many uncertainties, and much is still uncertain. We live in turbulent times and need to make safe decisions, without exposing the municipality to excessive financial risks. In this situation, it is responsible to pause the project and instead follow the development before we possibly take the next step, said Malin Lauber (S), Chair of the Municipal Executive Board.
The decision means, among other things, that the project organization is suspended, the existing data is preserved, and that the municipality and Växjö Energi follow the developments in the carbon capture sector through external monitoring.
If the conditions change, the issue can be raised again for a political decision in the Municipal Council.
Växjö stands by its high climate ambitions. At the same time, we must weigh climate benefits against economics and risk. This decision gives us the opportunity to be ready if the conditions improve in the future, said Maria Garmer (V), First Vice Chair of the Municipal Executive Board.
The final decision will be taken by the Municipal Council on February 24, 2026.
