Hydrogen-powered preschool cost 85 million – doesn't work

In 2022, the Kronoparkens preschool was inaugurated in Mariestad municipality. It was called “Unique in the world” at the time. However, the energy solution never worked as intended and the costs escalated.

The work on the preschool began in the fall of 2020, and the operations started in early 2022. The school has eight departments spread over two floors with space for a total of 144 children.

– I want to thank everyone who has been involved so that we have been able to do this. We are very proud of the building you have created for the residents of Mariestad and for our youngest and most important citizens, said the chairman of the municipal board Johan Abrahamsson (M) at the inauguration.

Solar panels on the preschool’s roof were supposed to provide the majority of the energy needs, and any surplus electricity would produce hydrogen, which would be stored in an external gas storage. The hydrogen would then be converted into electrical energy used for operation and heating during the winter months.

The preschool of the future, according to Annica Henrysson, head of preschool and educational care, and according to business manager Susanné Wallner, Mariestad is investing in a sustainable future to reach climate goals.

73 percent more expensive

Recently, the Taxpayers’ Association took a closer look at the project and found that the costs for the preschool escalated and became 73 percent more expensive than planned.

The cost for the preschool itself was 49 million SEK, and an additional 36 million SEK was added for the energy solution, which still does not work.

Furthermore, the annual operating costs are 800,000 SEK more than for a traditional preschool.

– The purpose was probably not to make money from this, but to show that it is possible, said the municipality’s sustainability strategist when waste ombudsman Philip Syrén contacted them.

Hydrogen storage doesn’t work

With the goal of testing a method to store hydrogen for future needs, LKAB, SSAB, and Vattenfall built an underground hydrogen storage in Luleå. However, it was quickly determined to be “unnecessarily complex” and the project was discontinued.

But at Kronoparkens preschool in Mariestad, they have not given up hope of making it work. Due to recurring technical problems, the facility has still not been put into operation. The latest plan is to try again at the turn of the year.

In addition to technical problems, there are also significant safety risks. Hydrogen is difficult to control and highly explosive. Late in the project, the Fire Protection Association, the Rescue Service, the County Administrative Board, and the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) decided to install a 17-meter high “evacuation pipe” on the concrete bunker, together with new pipe connections, to enable rapid ventilation of the hydrogen in the event of an accident.

Never profitable

In terms of socioeconomics, it will never be profitable, and resources consumed in this way are also a form of environmental degradation, according to associate professor and economist Christian Sandström.

According to Johan Abrahamsson, the marketing received through the project cannot be valued in monetary terms, but there is no evidence that this is the case.

Philip Syrén summarizes:

The hydrogen preschool in Mariestad has proven to be an expensive, risky, and technically complex investment without any practical or economic benefit in sight. The hope is that those responsible have learned from this failure and the significant additional costs, but judging from history, I am doubtful. It shows that it is easier to find new key figures and excuses.