The transition to low-emission energy is closely tied to everyday life. Goods still need to reach stores, airports still need fuel, and ferries still need to run on time.

At the same time, large parts of transport and industry still rely on fossil energy, even as low-emission alternatives gradually expand.

For Lea Rankinen, Head of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs at St1, that operating environment shapes how St1 approaches the transition.

“Our vision is to be the leading producer and seller of CO2-aware energy. In practice, that means reducing the CO2 intensity of the energy we deliver over time, while being transparent about how much we invest in low-emission solutions,” she explains.

Today, fossil energy still represents a large part of the energy used across the transport sector. St1 continues to supply that market, while also investing in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), renewable diesel (HVO), biogas, charging infrastructure and renewable power production.

According to Wilhelm Kiil Rød, Public Affairs Lead Norway at St1, the transition needs to happen gradually while new infrastructure and energy systems are built.

“If we stopped all sales of fossil energy tomorrow, it would have major consequences for mobility and transport. This has to be a planned shift.”

Building systems that can scale

One of the recurring themes in St1’s transition work is scale. Investing in biogas, charging infrastructure, renewable power production and biofuel facilities require major investments and long development timelines.

“A single facility can be a billion-scale investment, so you need significant capital to build new value chains and more low-emission energy at scale,” Wilhelm says and add that solutions also need to be commercially viable if they are to grow beyond smaller niche markets.

“We are fairly agnostic about what types of renewable energy we invest in. Our priorities are shaped by how we see the future and what our customers needs.”

Different parts of the transport sector are also expected to move at different speeds. Passenger cars are electrifying rapidly in parts of the Nordics, while sectors such as aviation, shipping and heavy transport are likely to require a broader mix of solutions over a longer period.

Cost and infrastructure still matter

One of the main challenges is that low-emission solutions compete with energy systems that have been developed and optimised over decades. Driving costs down across production, logistics and distribution is therefore essential.

“This also affects how quickly customers are able to transition. Renewable electricity, biomass and waste-based raw materials need to be available in sufficient volumes, while infrastructure and distribution systems must function reliably across large geographic areas,” Wilhelm explains.

Wilhelm Kiil Rød, Public Affairs Lead Norway at St1

Traceability and credibility

For bio-based fuels, St1 highlights traceability as a key credibility issue.

“A lot of the biofuels used in the Nordics are based on imported raw materials,” Wilhelm says. “That makes traceability extremely important.”

Used cooking oil is one example. Systems must be in place to verify that raw materials classified as waste are actually waste-based, and not virgin materials incorrectly labelled as something else.

“Traceability is non-negotiable for us,” Lea emphasizes. “It’s how we protect credibility and make sure we can stand behind what we sell.”

For St1, the transition is not defined by a single technology. It is shaped by how quickly new solutions can be scaled, adopted and integrated into everyday life.

“That is why we focus on the future needs and the practical realities of the transition: building infrastructure, securing reliable supply and documenting progress along the way,” Lea concludes.