Luleå's district heating system, which provides heat to approximately 31,000 households, many industries, and Sunderby hospital, primarily relies on a power plant co-owned by SSAB and Luleå Energi. In this facility, residual gases, particularly from the blast furnace, are the primary energy source used for heating. Project manager Magnus Johansson of Luleå Energi is focused on the energy transition happening at SSAB, emphasizing the need to meet the industry's timeline to maintain the reliability of the heating network.

The biggest challenge for Johansson and his team is adhering to a tight schedule while searching for additional partners besides SSAB, LKAB, and Uniper, which are currently crucial to the transition process. There are ongoing efforts to form new collaborations in order to effectively sustain Luleå's district heating network. The hope is that these partnerships can be secured in time to avoid service disruptions.

However, should the team fail to implement these solutions on time, Luleå Energi may be forced to procure significantly larger quantities of bio-oil and wood pellets. This would lead to higher operational costs, consequently risking the affordability of district heating for Luleå residents, transforming what has been traditionally inexpensive heating into a more costly utility.