Flexibility as a competitive advantage. Trollhättan’s model for the energy system of the future 

As electricity demand continues to rise across Europe, cities and regions are under growing pressure to accommodate industrial transformation, electrification of transport, new housing developments and economic growth, often without the possibility of rapid grid expansion. In Trollhättan, southern Sweden, a real-life experiment shows that flexibility can be a powerful alternative. 

In a dynamic industrial area of the city, a Living Lab brings together businesses, property owners, energy actors and researchers to explore how local energy systems can operate more intelligently. Coordinated by local and regional partners, including Energikontor Väst, the Energy Agency of West Sweden, hosted within Innovatum Science Park, together with Trollhättan Energi, and supported at regional level, the initiative shows how peak electricity demand can be significantly reduced without compromising operations, electrification or growth. 

Testing flexibility in real-world conditions 

Living Lab Trollhättan is located in the Kardanvägen area, which on a typical day hosts around 5 000 people, 3 000 vehicles and more than 700 parking spaces. The area has an annual electricity demand of approximately 40 GWh, with peak loads reaching up to 10 MW, a clear illustration of the pressure placed on local grids. 

By monitoring and actively managing electricity use during critical periods, mainly on weekday mornings, the project achieved double-digit reductions in peak demand. This freed up capacity for additional electric vehicles, charging points and industrial activities, all without exceeding existing grid limits. 

 “This is flexibility in practice. It’s not about switching off electricity, but about using it more intelligently, when it’s really needed,” says Magnus Kuschel, Innovation Leader at Energikontor Väst. 

Optimising the system, not individual assets 

A key feature of the Living Lab is its scale and diversity. Rather than focusing on single buildings or installations, flexibility is tested at area level, combining factories, housing and services. 

More than 1 500 smart sensors collect real-time data from machines, buildings, vehicles and EV chargers. Each asset has its own load profile, but together they form a collective demand pattern that determines grid stress. By optimising the system as a whole, several megawatts of capacity can be released without investing in new infrastructure. 

“Testing practical solutions for a flexible industry of the future enables more than transition; it creates conditions for growth,” says Lars Borgström, Business Developer at Assemblin El. 

Collaboration as a precondition for electrification 

The project underlines that technology alone is not enough. Human collaboration, new working methods and capacity building are equally important. Living Lab Trollhättan acts as a learning environment, helping companies and organisations understand data management, visualisation and agile energy control. 

“We show that electrification and fossil-free solutions are possible through smart control and co-development, rather than new power lines,” emphasises Jenny Andersson, Project Manager at Trollhättan Energi. 

A model with wider relevance 

Living Lab Trollhättan is part of the project Fyrbodal for Future Flex, funded by the Swedish Energy Agency and driven by Trollhättan Energi, Innovatum Science Park, Kraftstaden, University West, Fyrbodal Association of Local Authorities, and local partners.  

The ambition goes beyond Trollhättan itself: the project aims to demonstrate how local, smart power control can reduce the need for costly grid expansion while enabling large-scale electrification. By combining digital solutions with strong local cooperation, the Living Lab offers a replicable model for other cities and regions facing similar challenges. 

This best practice is extracted from our publication ‘Sustainable Regions in Action‘. Discover more best practices here!