Energy Governance and Industrial Excess Heat in Greenhouse Operations: A Case Study of Hofors, Sweden

Energy-intensive greenhouse cultivation in cold climates depends on affordable heat, suitable infrastructure, and coordination among energy utilities, industries, greenhouse operators, and municipal actors. This study investigates how local energy governance influences greenhouse operations in Hofors, Sweden, where the district heating system is partly municipally owned and supplied with recovered heat from industrial processes. A longitudinal qualitative case study approach was applied, combining field observations, stakeholder dialogues, technical information, and publicly available documents. The findings indicate that industrial excess heat and district heating return flows may offer opportunities for resource-efficient greenhouse heating using low-temperature climate control technologies. The technical feasibility of a specific connection depends on site-specific factors such as temperature conditions and infrastructure requirements. Pricing considerations, utility ownership arrangements, infrastructure limitations, and stakeholder coordination shape the conditions for realizing these opportunities. The case highlights a potential governance tension between municipal interests in energy operations and the need for reliable, predictable energy access for local businesses; the study does not quantify municipal revenues or establish a direct causal link to specific investment decisions. The results indicate that the successful integration of greenhouses into local energy systems depends not only on the technical availability of excess heat but also on pricing models, ownership structures, infrastructure planning, and cross-sector coordination. Municipal energy governance can either facilitate or constrain the integration of industrial excess heat into local greenhouse operations. The findings also suggest that, subject to technical and economic feasibility, improved access to industrial excess heat could support local greenhouse production and may contribute to regional resilience and food security in the longer term.