Digital inauguration with Södra

In the spring of 2020, Södra succeeded in realizing its world-unique innovation where biometane can now be produced solely from forest raw material. The solution provides a revolutionary 99% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared to fossil fuels. This milestone, which offers unprecedented opportunities in the future, was of course something Södra wanted to celebrate and commemorate.

Challenge The inauguration ceremony was scheduled to take place in Mönsterås in May 2020. Due to the Covid pandemic, Södra was forced to postpone it to October. But as early as June, it became clear that even that inauguration ceremony risked being cancelled. Then, at the recommendation of Contrast, Södra decided to create a digital event instead.

Solution As part of our idea, we wanted to give event attendees an experience of the innovative and technologically advanced biomethane plant with its towers and enormous pipes, just as they would have received if they had been present at the inauguration. Instead of broadcasting the digital event from a studio somewhere, we gave the plant itself the starring role in the broadcast. From a tent outside the factory, with customized stage decor, the plant was present throughout the broadcast.
We also wanted the entire broadcast to be live, instead of cutting together prerecorded footage. Live broadcasts always add a special edge to an event. They create a genuine and transparent experience, even though they place higher demands on us as a provider.

We were only a few physically present participants: technicians and film producers, project managers and project assistants, a presenter who kept the entire broadcast together, as well as experts from Södra. The more people participated in discussions via a link from other parts of the world, including Minister of Economic Affairs Ibrahim Baylan, the CEO of the Biomethanol Institute in Washington, and several EU parliamentarians.

Results The benefits of making the opening ceremony digital were that we reached a significantly larger audience. We were also able to engage more interesting speakers and interview international experts, something that would have been difficult to achieve if these had had to allocate time for travel and stay in Mösterås. Moreover, because the broadcast was saved in its entirety, we were able to quickly create an English version for distribution to non-Swedish-speaking stakeholders. It was also easy for Södra to disseminate selected parts of the broadcast in their various channels. As a surprising bonus, the digital opening ceremony gave a real boost to the entire staff at the facility in Mönsterås!

”The atmosphere in Mönsterås today is wonderful – you know, like after a successful company party. Everyone is so impressed by what you managed to achieve and the praise is pouring in – in conversations, by email and text messages. Within and outside Södra.”