A greenhouse solution to heavy industries' greenhouse gas problem

Abstract: In this thesis, we study a range of Swedish greenhouse projects and how their commercialization of industrial waste heat have been financially structured. The aim of this thesis is to analyze the financial risks and benefits of such projects and how they have been managed. To understand the financial challenges of these projects we conducted a case-based study where several greenhouse projects were explored. We find that the main risks for greenhouse operators to engage in these industrial waste heat recovery projects were the complexity of the investment and the risk of not having internal control of the heat needed to operate the greenhouse. For waste heat owners, such as pulp and paper plants, the main hurdle was the potentially high capital expenditures required. The main motivations for engaging in these projects were found to be cost savings and improved environmental performance. The findings suggest that a specialized intermediary structuring the exchange of waste heat between waste heat owners and greenhouses can mitigate financial risks as experienced by greenhouses and waste heat owners respectively and enable more efficient waste heat transactions.