Students from southern Sweden discover the energy jobs of the future in Boden

The delegation of energy engineering students, originating from various parts of southern Sweden, is travelling through Norrbotten to gain insight into the region’s rapidly expanding energy sector. Boden was one of the key stops on the itinerary, alongside Luleå, Piteå and Skellefteå – and here, the scale of the transition was both visible and tangible.

The day in Boden began at Stegra’s ongoing megaproject. From the observation tower, the students were given a clear overview of the industrial development taking shape, followed by a briefing with the company’s recruitment team – a session that many participants described as particularly valuable.

"Many of the students appreciated the opportunity to meet an employer that is already recruiting on a large scale. It makes the opportunities feel very concrete", says Anna Andersson, Skills Coordinator at the Municipality of Boden.

Stegra is developing the world’s first full-scale green steel plant and Europe’s largest hydrogen production facility – an establishment that will generate thousands of new jobs over the coming years. For the students, the visit underscored that these opportunities are not distant visions but real, ongoing developments.

ENERGY SYSTEMS IN RAPID TRANSFORMATION

Later in the day, the delegation visited Bodens Energi, where they gained insight into how the municipality’s energy system is evolving in response to the region’s growing demand. A key part of the visit was the tour of the combined heat and power plant, which supplies approximately 365 million kWh of district heating and 50 million kWh of electricity to Boden’s residents each year.

The plant is designed to operate on a wide range of fuels – from combustible waste and recycled wood to peat, sawdust, wood chips, as well as bio-oil and oil for reserve capacity. For the students, the visit provided a concrete understanding of how flexible energy solutions function in practice when an entire system undergoes transition.

The discussions also highlighted future competence needs and technical career paths in an energy landscape that is evolving at remarkable speed.

For many of the participants, this was their first encounter with Boden. Several expressed surprise at both the pace of the green transition and the breadth of opportunities emerging from it.

– The fact that half of the students can already imagine moving here, provided the right job is available, is a strong signal. It shows that Boden has something to offer even to those who are not yet familiar with the region, says Anna Andersson.