The Barracuda facility in Gamleby, which manufactures camouflage for Saab, has achieved a massive reduction in its carbon footprint by introducing a biogas system into its production process. This single change is projected to fulfill nearly 50% of Saab’s overall company-wide carbon dioxide (CO₂) reduction target for 2025 while also increasing the security of the factory’s energy supply, reports SAAB.
The shift to biogas effectively cuts the Barracuda facility’s total CO₂ emissions by 65% and creates opportunities for further environmental improvements in the future.
When the Saab Barracuda management team first began exploring ways to reduce their emissions, few expected that one modification could be so transformative. The major success is attributed to the dedication of the Gamleby team to drive change.
“This was our strategy and our goal from the beginning. We want Saab to be a leader in sustainability, but we also wanted Barracuda to set the example within the company. We moved forward with this project because we believed in it, and we managed to secure the necessary support,” explained Charlotta Fridell, Production Manager at Saab Barracuda in Gamleby.
Manufacturing camouflage is a process that requires a lot of energy and heat. The process involves heating two boilers, which are now powered by biogas but previously used liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). This heat is then used to dry the camouflage material.
This heating process previously generated 1,250 tonnes of CO₂ annually. With the switch to biogas, the process now creates almost zero direct emissions.
Beyond the reduction at the factory, the move improves overall environmental performance because the old LPG had to be transported to Sweden by ship from Eastern Europe, generating large emissions throughout the delivery process. The new biogas, however, is produced locally in Sweden. Some of the organic waste used to create the gas even comes from the nearby town of Västervik, making it a truly local and sustainable supply chain that also enhances energy security.
The team started looking into biogas after securing funding from Saab’s internal Climate Fund for initial studies in 2022. They later learned from Västervik Council that a grant from the Swedish climate organization, Klimatklivet, might also be possible.
“We committed to the project in the third quarter of 2024, before we received confirmation from Klimatklivet that we would get the grant. Hearing the news about the grant made the result even better, but we would have continued regardless,” said Henrik Nilsson, Industrial Engineer at Saab’s Barracuda facility.
Planning began shortly after, and the new biogas system was successfully installed over a six-week period during the summer production break in 2025. This allowed production to resume on schedule, a key factor for management.
Now, the Barracuda team is already looking ahead, investigating the feasibility of capturing the excess energy from the production process to heat the rest of the factory, as well as finding spaces to install solar panels for further gains.
“The success here has really grown the enthusiasm across the Barracuda team and wider Saab. This is something we needed to do to contribute to Saab’s environmental goals, but also something we wanted to do as an example to others of what is possible. It was a real team effort from Saab management, the environment team, and those involved in production here in Gamleby,” Ms. Fridell concluded.
