Northvolt has, like most start-ups, endured difficult times, but that's inevitable when it operates in a completely new industry for Europe.
The recent scrapping of Ørsted's Flagship One e-methanol project in Örnsköldsvik is not exactly good news for the green transition.
The driver behind the decision by Ørsted was purely financial. “The liquid e-fuel market in Europe is developing slower than expected," they wrote.
But it's not a total disaster. E-methanol, which is produced by combining green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide, has not been consigned to the cleantech scrapheap just yet.
Swedish developer Liquid Wind remains committed to its e-fuel ambitions, even after Ørsted's decision.
As Liquid Wind's head of communications, Klaudija Cavala, said in response to the news:
– Although we were eager to see Flagship One succeed, this decision does not affect Liquid Wind's plans or our dedication to electrofuel production in Sweden.
And this is the key takeaway. The first wave of cleantech saw spectacular failures, such as the American solar panel startup, Solyndra.
Breaking new ground in a commoditized industry is always risky. The challenge is as much to disrupt the cost of production, as it is to create a green innovation.
There have been, and will be, difficult times and speedbumps in Norrland's efforts to build a green industry. There will be failures.
Northvolt and Skellefteå kommun, know this only too well. Anyone who expected an easy ride is delusional.
But there's much to be positive about.
What we're doing up here is pioneering. I don't like comparing it to the Klondike, because the goldrush in California was an exercise in pure personal enrichment.
Of course, if we succeed with our green industries, some will become rich and Norrland cities will grow, but the rest of humanity will benefit hugely, too.
And of course, when we suffer the occasional and inevitable green transition glitch, there will be those down south who will be rubbing their hands in glee.
Let them gloat, while we push on -- taking the occasional hit -- working to make the world a better place.
Norrland's green journey has faced bumps, but the journey continues.
This is a column and the views are the author's own.