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.