SSC invests to become an
industry leader in sustainable space activities
SSC is increasing its
contribution to a sustainable social development
through a number of initiatives. Among the
initiatives is the newly inaugurated Spaceport
Esrange where satellites will be launched from 2024,
as well as a new membership in the global
Exponential Roadmap Initiative with the aim of
making SSC sustainable throughout the company’s
entire value chain. In SSC's latest Annual and
Sustainability report, a selection of the
investments are presented.
“We have a proud heritage as
one of the industry’s leading suppliers of advanced
space services. Now we are taking further steps
towards establishing ourselves as a key societal
actor through our unique capabilities. You can see
this in all parts of our business, from the
operation of our facilities to our daily work and
the services we offer,” says Henrik Lampa, Head of
Sustainability at SSC.
Among the investments is a new
membership in the Exponential Roadmap Initiative.
The initiative’s mission is to halve global
greenhouse gas emissions before 2030 through
exponential climate action and solutions. The
Exponential Roadmap Initiative is an accredited
partner through which members join the UN-backed
Race to Zero. By joining the initiative, SSC will
strategically work to halve the company’s own carbon
emissions throughout the whole value chain,
integrate climate and nature into the core strategy
and contribute to a positive global transition for
the benefit of climate and nature.
“The tools to halve the
emissions by 2030 are already available – in energy,
industry, transport, agriculture
and forestry. But they need to
be scaled up exponentially. In addition to reducing
its own emissions, the space sector can contribute
with earth observations and satellite data which are
crucial for scaling up green solutions and scaling
down the fossil fuel economy. We are very glad that
SSC, as the first space company, has chosen to join
our global initiative,” says Johan Falk, CEO and
founder of the Exponential Roadmap Initiative.
Several investments have
already been made, such as introducing green energy
supplies at the company's facilities. At Santiago
Satellite Station, 624 new solar panels have been
installed and a similar installation is projected at
WASC in Australia. At Esrange Space Center in Sweden
parts of the infrastructure are now powered by
geothermal heating and hydropower.
Another significant investment
is the establishment of Spaceport Esrange, mainland
EU’s first facility for orbital launches with a
first satellite launch expected in 2024. The
facility will also host tests of Europe’s initiative
for reusable rockets – ESA's Themis program led by
French company ArianeGroup.
“Our greatest contribution to
society comes from our capabilities and services.
Spaceport Esrange provides Europe with a gateway to
space, something we have not had before. The
satellites that will be launched from there will
feature functions that are crucial for a sustainable
development of our modern societies. This includes
everything from climate research to innovative
functionalities and business models, as well as
security and democracy,” says Stefan Gustafsson, SVP
Strategy & Sustainable Business at SSC.
In 2022, SSC also signed ESA’s
Statement for a Responsible Space Sector together
with members from the European space sector. The aim
is to provide a basis for sustainable industry
development and increase space’s contribution to
society by working in a more socially and
environmentally responsible way.
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