From rail to advanced energy systems
Mats' career started at SJ's rail department, where he worked as a repairman, before moving on to work with electric power systems for train operations. This was followed by a long career in the steel and energy sector, with key roles at SSAB, Avesta Nyby and ABB. With a deep knowledge of industrial automation and energy systems, he has over the years worked with everything from the process industry to municipal energy companies. With the common denominator of energy efficiency as a constant companion.
"I've always had a genuine interest in energy, both on a small and large scale. Understanding how we can improve efficiency and save energy through modern technology is something I am passionate about," says Mats.
With over 30 years of experience in energy and automation, Mats has seen the industry change fundamentally - but at the same time, many of the technical challenges he worked with at the beginning of his career remain. Today, he is a senior systems engineer with full installation authorization and an expert in control systems for energy production.
"Right now I'm working on programming and testing the control systems for the reactors in Finland. It's fascinating to see how the technology is evolving, but at the same time it's striking that I'm working with the same type of code and system platforms today as I was 30 years ago," says Mats.
His role involves managing the control of four different substations and 12 systems - a total of over 4,000 signals that need to be processed and optimized. It's a complex and critical job where every detail must work flawlessly to ensure a stable energy supply.
Future energy supply - challenges & opportunities
The energy debate is hotter than ever and, according to Mats, Sweden is facing major changes. Our energy consumption is expected to double in the near future, while production resources are lacking. The conversion of CHP plants to CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) means they will consume their own electricity rather than contribute to the grid, which could lead to increased prices and capacity shortages in some regions.
"We need major investments in transmission capacity. A High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link from north to south would drastically reduce the price differences between the electricity areas. Today, the difference between SE2 and SE3 can be as much as five kronor per kWh.
At present, we see that Swedish energy companies are investing billions abroad while we have large price differences between our own electricity areas. Prioritizing reinforcements within Sweden should be a matter of course," says Mats.
He also stresses the importance of large electricity consumers investing in their own generation, through solar and wind power, to reduce their vulnerability to high electricity prices.
Selling or keeping electricity within Sweden?
The question of whether Sweden should export or keep its electricity within the country is a hot debate. According to Mats, selling electricity abroad is a necessity, but at the same time stricter requirements are needed for the countries that affect Swedish electricity prices.
"We are bound by free trade agreements and have to sell, but we should be able to make demands on countries like Germany, for example, where the lack of electricity areas affects prices here. We also need to strengthen our own transmission capacity between Sweden's electricity areas," he says.
What is the best energy solution?
The debate about which energy source is most sustainable is ongoing, and Mats believes that there is no single solution - a mix of solar, wind and hydropower is the most sustainable option for Sweden.
"Solar energy is my personal preference, but it is the combination of several energy sources that provides stability and competitiveness for Swedish industry," says Mats.
When it comes to heating and energy use in the home, he advocates photovoltaics in combination with heat pumps and district heating, to maximize energy efficiency and minimize operating costs.
Expertise in energy efficiency & automation
In his role at Plantvision , Mats Plantvision primarily with energy systems and industrial automation, where he uses his deep expertise in ABB and Siemens systems to optimize large facilities. He emphasizes the importance of ensuring a high degree of automation (automated systems that monitor and control processes) to improve energy efficiency, especially in the process and district heating industries.
"Speed control (a technique for adjusting the speed of motors according to demand) is one of the most effective methods of saving energy in large district heating plants. By adjusting the speed of pumps and fans according to demand, we can significantly reduce energy consumption," explains Mats.
Knowledge transfer - the key to the future
One of the biggest challenges in the industry is knowledge transfer. Much of the most valuable expertise is not found in books but in individuals with long experience. Mats sees mentoring and knowledge sharing as a key part of his work.
"Education is the key to the survival of the world," he says, quoting Professor Hans Rosling.
He argues that the industry needs to improve knowledge sharing to reduce dependency on key personnel and ensure a sustainable supply of skills.
The future is filled with jobs - and challenges
For Mats, the future is both bright and full of challenges. The need for experts in energy systems will be huge, especially as Sweden and the rest of the world make their green transition (the move from fossil fuels to renewable energy).
"There is a lack of long-term policy thinking on the energy transition. We need a clearer strategy on how to manage the transition to renewable energy and strengthen the electricity infrastructure," said Mats.
Despite the challenges, he is positive about the future and is confident that technology development and innovation will play a crucial role in the energy system transition.
We thank Mats so much for the chat which gave us lots of energy, of course.
Good luck with future projects and assignments!
