Energy in Sweden: Leading the way to a sustainable future?

Sweden Leading the way to a sustainable future? Sweden fuels,

is fortunate

of hydropower

but it has still a long way to go in establishing

energy

system.

However,

and the experience in

to have large amounts

the

path

acquired

towards

Sweden

9

The Swedish

a

has put Sweden sustainable

decades flexibility

during

recent

ago, which

has resulted

and better

in

environmental

performance.

In 1970, fossil fuel imports

corresponded

to almost

energy

supply.

in a leading

energy

80% of the total

By 1398, this proportion

Today, the shift towards sustainable

occupation

of Swedish

Immediately

after the Second

changes

ture of the energy sector.

in the struc-

for

the

the need for switching

energy

energy

policies.

World War,

to other

energy efficiency.

motives

behind

changed

somewhat,

security issues were highest on the agenda.

are becoming

The economy improved robustly in the post-

still holds.

sector.

fuels and

Thus the main

political

actions

have

and the time schedules

tighter,

but overall direction

However, a few major corrections

war period and fuel imports increased rapid-

have been judged necessary.

ly. The potential

aims to phase out nuclear power completely,

impact

impact

losses in nuclear power), which

agenda

ener-

goal in the

improving

Environmental

(incl. energy

energy

technologies.

has been a major pre-

as Sweden’s energy supply increased by 36%

significant

new and more efficient

of and

Energy policy

a major

indicates

developing

the importance

new energy alternatives

Fossil fuel dependence

trade became

to 622 TWh

but confirmed

in

Global climate change once more reinforces

dependence

conversion

position

future.

had been reduced to 33%, at the same time from 457 TWb

made

to the course of events

rapidly finding

political

decades. In brief, the Swedish energy mix today looks quite different from what it did three

has been

changes

gy systems is the most important

energy sector has undergone

more

progress

major Sweden,

a sustainable

reports.

transformations

major

considerable

and bio

cernible

on the

of imported

country’s

balance

fuel of

cause for concern. became

more

dis-

after the 1960s and a new major

item in the political agenda.

Thus, the oil-

price shocks of the 1970s did not involve

First, Sweden

which is a goal that has dominated

Swedish

energy policies during the past two decades. Meanwhile,

the

international

debate

on

nuclear power has been revived due to the threats of climate change. affect the Swedish

Whether

position

this will

on phase-out

remains to be seen. Secondly, the role of the government

in the energy sector has changed

from being the central player to becoming the regulator.

This means that the govern-

ment will provide the framework in the form of guidelines, constraints will rely on market

and incentives, but

forces to perform

the

desired changes. In its efforts described,

to accomplish

the changes

Sweden has broken

new ground

in terms of energy policy.

In Sweden, ener-

gy taxes have been used since the 1950s as a policy measure.

In 1989, a general energy

tax was levied on electricity the exception

when a major tax reform was

made,

taxation

CO,

was introduced in other areas.

shifts have been intensively nationally, common related

September/October

2002

REFOCUS

www.re-focus.net

In the

early 1990s

allowed tax reductions

46

and fuels, with

of bio fuels and peat.

as countries ground

policies.

discussed

are trying

for energy

and Tax inter-

to find

and climate-

It can be said without

FEATURE

exaggeration

-

ENERGY

IN

SWEDEN

that Sweden is in the forefront

in terms of applying tax shifts as part of policy package ment

aimed

(Table

1).

at sustainable

develop-

The

example

Swedish

shows that huge emissions fact be accomplished conditions

the

space

heating

is high, and the industrial

strongly tied to energy-intensive Moreover, plished

such

with

within

can in

even in cold climate

in which

demand

reductions

changes

industries.

can

an expanding

be accom-

economy

only one generation.

increased use of electricity

structure

and

However,

the

in the residential

as well as the industrial sectors now needs to be reduced significantly phase-out

in order to enable a

of nuclear power.

Roof module collectors on carport and heatingplantfor

a mw residential area in Kungzbacka

adoption

existing

The energy policies of the past 25 years have led to important ture

of energy

changes in the struc-

supply

and

utilisation

in

Sweden. The Energy Research Programme has played a role in this development, albeit not a decisive one. technologies

The various bio energy

and, to some extent, develop-

ment of flue gas treatment pressurised

technologies

beds, as well as large heat pumps

for district

heating

contributions

have made significant

to the achievement

and environmental

of energy

policy goals.

wind power and electricity biomass,

and

However,

generation

from

as well as solar energy, have so far

long

of energy-efftcient

run.

products

Environmental,

other external

costs associated

External

elements

and

with energy

use are usually not reflected price.

in the

security

in the energy

such as climate

ment

efficiency ering

through

industry

sector.

to quantify

reportedly

but the decision

not to inter-

nalise them in the total energy price implic-

national

itly quantifies

efficiency.

them by setting their value to

zero. The Swedish government ciency

standards

that

not

has set effi-

only

promote

energy efftciency but also ensures a base level

in energy efficiency spent

heating

and

independently

industrial

of

the

processes,

Energy

Research

Programme. One

learned through

lesson

that

has

been

the intensive work on ener-

gy policies of the last 25 years is that major in the energy system require con-

siderable

time.

it seems

that and

deliver

energy performance

incentive beyond

There

to increase

the minimum

To avoid rhis situa-

tion, the government

has revised the code

about every five years, as technologies design strategies

improve.

and

In the 70s and

80s financial support was also given to ener-

This may sound trivial but

gy-efficiency

politicians

ings in the form of subsidies and loans.

initially

believed that, given substantial nological

little

set by the government.

important

changes

was, however,

since the 1970s.

funds, tech-

scientific

research

even

in the short

solutions

Today, all players

truly

in the energy

would run.

field are

clearly aware that changes are time-consuming and also require

many measures

than merely R&D funding.

particular

investments

in existing build-

a focus on heating

in residential average

buildings

specific

domestic

the total governmental

requirements

heat

demand

including

hot water from 310 kWh/a.ma

in

Committee

on energy

to about 30% of

energy research bud-

have been developed

by

the

These programmes

Swedish

have focused on technol-

ogy change, i.e. rhe introduction, cialisation

and

government.

and market

commer-

penetration

of new

energy-efficient technologies, and on implementation of energy efficiency by different The

players.

programmes

based on a voluntary promoted,

have all been

approach

and have

rather than regulated, energy effi-

ciency improvements.

A recent example is a

agreement

ment, municipalities industry on common

between the governand the building comprehensive goals

for the future use of energy and materials in new and existing buildings.

in midI99Os.

The recent Climate

have

of their

get between 1975 and 1993. In recent years, innovative energy efficien-

far-reaching

helped to reduce the

1970 to 160 kWh/a.m*

other

In

budgets

energy use has amounted

cy programmes

building

8%

However, research in Sweden on

practised

In Sweden,

R&D

have been

countries

less than

energy

cov-

sector as well as the In general, public R&D

limited. In 1997, the OECD

have been applied

space

energy

programmes

and health effects of fossil fuels are difficult

codes for energy efficiency in new buildings

in

govern-

investments

such (including

of changes

Swedish improved

change, risks associated with nuclear power

of energy efficiency.

taxes) and low electricity

R&D

the building

played a minor role. The high oil prices as prices have led to a number

The

buildings.

has also promoted

suggests

RE technologies

In fact a second

a tightening-up

of existing

lesson is that market forces, ener-

new buildings.

It is suggested

that the cur-

gy prices (incl. taxes) and public acceptance

rent standard

of 130 kWh/a.ma

should

be

There are about 1900 hydro power plants in

may have considerably

reduced to 110 by 2003, to 90 by 2010 and

Sweden, of which 700 have ratings of over

relevant and

to 60 by 2020.

These figures include heat-

and projects

ing, domestic

hot

1.5 MW, generating about 70 TYVhla or close to 50% of the total electricity genera-

important

than research inputs, successful are

R&D

necessary

improved

stronger

although

programmes for

the

influence

development

of

and new energy technologies.

Energy Asmentioned

conservation

water

However,

at the present

buildings,

approximately

buildings

will still

Therefore,

standards

and 75%

administrative

instruments

used since the 1950s as a policy measure to

mation

and training

raise energy prices and thus encourage

to convey knowledge

ciency

measures

as well

as promote

the

tive actions

2002

of

with infor-

programmes

in order

of possible cost-effec-

for owners

September/October

of today’s

be in use by 2050.

will be complemented

efft-

electricity.

rate of renewal of

control

earlier energy taxes have been

for

and managers

REFOCUS

of

Hydropower

tion in Sweden (12% of the total energy supply). As the main expansion

of hydropower

took place up to the 1960s the focus was on the expansion impact,

of energy supply.

the major concerns

the effects

that

the exploitation

would have on established ties. Environmental

www.re-focusnet

In terms of

were related to of rivers

economic

activi-

concerns have gained in

47

FEATURE

-

ENERGY

IN

SWEDEN

ongoing

R&D

related

and demonstration

to combined

and power, evaporative

gas turbines

and small gas turbines speed generators able liquid efforts

from

renew-

main

R&D

on the production

Today, about 350 ethanol Sweden

with high-

lignocellulosic

regular traffic

heat

(EvGT)

Regarding

fuels the

are focused

ethanol

combined

(HSG).

motor

projects

cycle combined

in about

of

materials.

buses are used in 10 urban

and E85 filling stations

areas in are intro-

duced all over Sweden.

Heat

pumps

Heat pumps

can make heating

more effi-

cient as one unit of work (e.g. electricity) can generate temperature water.

Due to a favourable

electricity

District heating pipes in rock tunnel. Photo: Gbteborg Energi AB

now

ever since, and more attention

being

paid

ecosystems

to the

as renewal

discussed.

impact

on

of existing

is

river

plants

is

Swedish law protects the remain-

ing rivers. A recent development duction

of the so-called

involves

a new system

generator

is connected

voltage grid without

certificates and

power

generation

using

Powerformer

that

where

Bio fuels able energy resources as they can be used for

losses.

heating,

electricity generation,

in the transport

sector.

Sweden has good wind conditions

for power

and was one of the pioneers

this technology gy programme early efforts

when a national was launched

resulted

of

wind ener-

in 1375.

The

in the world’s first 2

decades.

mix

role in Sweden’s

during

supply,

as opposed

means doubled

in the period.

1990s and Sweden is now pioneering

wind

power in the Artic regions. At present a large part

of the

introduce

R&D-programme

the Windformer

is used concept,

on the previously

mentioned

concept,

with the industry.

together

first programme

to

based

Powerformer

for stimulating

The

the market

has been

Swedish

ment

up to now exceed 30 million

gration

above investment

programme

close to 600 installed (300 MW) generating electricity

wind

power

450 GWh/a

ering approximately total

has resulted in

0.5%

of the country’s

generation.

The

energy policy states that emphasis placed

on

large-scale

and

plants

and covSwedish should be

offshore

wind

comprises

other

the development

sectors

for the production energy

is in district

heating

the production

of fuel for vehicles.

use.

gasification

market

of the Swedish

and the introduction

of

(IGCC) Varnamo

September/October

as well as The

for using bio fuels is at least twice

integrated

the effects of the deregulation

wood

will certain-

generation,

the present

electricity

The main where

ation, but future developments ly involve electricity

the total electricity

However,

and

fuels stand for 50% of the total heat gener-

potential

for single-family

water or exhaust air as heat source)

and large units

houses

(e.g. using

for industrial

waste heat)

applications

or for district

heating

In 1993, the world’s first combined

cycle

using wood fuels was completed in southern

2002

RE

Sweden.

sidies the market resulted

growth

was too fast and

in a large number

installations mance.

with

of heat pump

unsatisfactory

and the market collapsed. nology

procurement

In 1994 a techwas

programme

launched

with

encourage

the use of reliable,

improved

heat

houses.

perfor-

The market subsidy was withdrawn

the

overall

pumps

for

objective

to

cheaper

and

single-family

These efforts succeeded

ing the development heat pumps

in promot-

of a new generation

and the heat pump

grown rapidly since then, and annual in Sweden units. pump around

today amount

of

market has sales

to some 25 000

In total, there are some 300 000 heat installations in Sweden, of which 100 large units

are for industrial

applications

and for district heating.

heat pumps

deliver a total of 16 TWh

These of

heat annually.

and

and inte-

generation

of the economy.

power and the goal is to cover 10 to 15% of generation.

of

the establish-

of biomass products,

between

increase

of the use of bio-

technologies,

of networks

invest-

As a result, Sweden

experience

biomass-related

of

this has

between public and

private organisations.

distribution

The

element

been possible only due to discerning

was started in 1991 and the total subsidies Euro.

since the forest

Nevertheless,

ments and co-operation

mass, which

This

more than

an important

industry.

has a unique

for

This can be regard-

sector

in the early

three

to 9% in 1970.

that the use of biomass

first 3 MW turbine.

The world’s first off-

last

or 15% of the total energy

ed as a natural development,

was installed

the

In 1998, bio fuels accounted

about 90 TWh

MW turbine in the 1980s and later also the shore installation

48

energy

as well as fuel

Biomass has come

to play a more important total

pumps

(using sewage water as heat source). However, in combination with market sub-

directly to the highthe need for a trans-

Back then,

ground (using

Bio fuels are the most diverse of the renew-

power

generation

bio fuels in

existing district heating plants.

the

former and reduced conversion

Wind

heat

is the intro-

concept

in the early 1380s.

the market growth was for both small heat

may slow down the introduction

of wind power in favour of combined

relation between

and oil price, heat pumps became

very popular importance

three units of heat using low sources e.g. ground and sewage

in

There is also

www.re-focmnet

Solar energy Sweden was one of the pioneers large-scale

solar heating

solar energy 1975.

when

programme

An important

solar heating technology absorber developed

regarding a national

was launched feature

in

of Swedish

is that the Sunstrip

already in the 1970s still

is the main solar industry

in Sweden.

In

1970s the major interest was to reduce oil in district

heating

and the R&D

large-scale solar heating

focused

on

systems that result-

ed in pioneering

development

ule collectors.

In the late 1980s oil was

of large mod-

6%

FEATURE

Table 1: Swedish

taxes on fuel for heat

generation

-

1999

ENERGY

IN

SWEDEN

(1 EUR = 9.3 SEK - Aug 2002)

players.

as biomass, residues and waste heat, often in

received funding of the order of 20 million Euros since it opened and has a leading

Professor

international

Engineering

combination

with heat pumps.

vailing conditions

led to decreased

in solar heating R&D although

The pre-

and

reduced

interest

funds

for

the systems were becoming

mature and Sweden had a leading manufacturer of such systems.

However, Sweden is

The Angstrom

position

in

more than 500 m* solar collectors

demonstration grid-connected

The interest,

as well as the technolo-

gy, for large-scale solar heating is spreading in the EU, mainly in Germany,

Denmark

and Austria, and the technology

is close to

competitive

gle-family houses were introduced

already in

the late 1970s but were too early and created a bad reputation. the reputation sited market hindered

The need to re-establish

together with the lack of farstimulation

the market

from

example, as in Germany. performance

based

introduced idential curement

programmes taking

off, for

Since 2000, a new

subsidy

to promote

has

scheme

was

solar systems for res-

and commercial competition

use.

A solar pro-

was also carried out

to improve the competitiveness

of small solar

University

of

Goteborg,

Sweden.

solar power and Sweden has of PV modules

for export to main Europe.

Future

+46-31-7721152;

[email protected]

goal

Government

of

is a 50% CO,

by

the

the

reduction

from per-

ception

that Sweden cannot simultaneously CO,

emissions,

power,

keep

hydro

phase-out

power

standard

of

recent scenario studies at of Technology

strate that it is technically

demon-

and economically

feasible to achieve such goals. characteristics

nuclear

at the present

level, and increase its material University

Swedish

National

Building Sustainable

Swedish Energy

tration,

Stockholm,

in Sweden,

Swedish

Facts

National

Eskilstuna,

Important

of the scenarios include more

efficient use of energy in combination

with

ISES Solar World Congress 2003 Goteborg, Sweden The International is holding

Solar Energy Society

its next world congress at the

Swedish Exhibition Goteborg, Scientific

14-19,

Technical

leading scientists, engineers

& Congress

on June

Congress

researchers,

and industry

cal decisions,

order of 10 TWh. Pioneering

However,

development

film solar cells already

regarding in the

thin-

1980s and

emission protocol,

together

in

CO,

emissions.

of the

goal

suggested

potential

developments

solar materials led to the foundation Angstrom

Solar Centre

in 1996, a major

Committee

carbon

that increase

using fossil fuels.

will not

but require politi-

in particular

trading

world records in cell efficiency in the 1990s with

these scenarios

materialise by themselves,

According

taxes or

the cost of to the Kyoto

Sweden is allowed to increase its However, by the

the short-term

Swedish

Climate

is that the average CO,

national R&D centre focused on thin-film,

sions 2008-2012

solar materials and smart windows. Now research is focused on manufacture and sta-

the CO, emissions in 1990. To achieve this,

ble efficiency

performance together

with

rather

than

major

industrial

the government and introduce

should

emis-

intends trading

be 4% lower than

A

will give architects, an

opportunity to meet, present and discuss the latest developments in the field of

power.

in solar heat and wind

Centre, 2003.

representatives

in Sweden generating

and

figures

Adminis-

2001

Solar and other Renewable

about 60 GWh/a

2001.

and

Energy

nologies. An Exhibition

the overall potential for solar heating is of the

Experiences. Administration.

Swedish

reduce

Chalmers

Systems:

2001.

1990 to 2050, but there is a widespread

However,

Silveira, S. (Editor). Energy

Energy

suggested

Committee

References

stantial investments

In total, there

;

Jan-Olof.Dalen

are close to 10 000 solar heating installations

hot water systems.

S-41296

Tel. +46 31 7721153

increase in the use of biomass as well as sub-

domestic

Services Chalmers

Technology,

AB Svensk Byggtjanst,

challenges

long-term

Climate

living.

Fax.

Associate

Building

(Installationsteknik),

sys-

of 5-10 TWh of

already several manufacturers

The

in certain applications.

Market subsidies for solar heating in sin-

Dalenback,

(Docent),

(PV)

have been built as Analyses have plants.

collectors plant.

In

Contact: Jan-Olof

installations

revealed a future potential

heating

field.

tems such as lighthouses, traffic lights, boats, and summer houses. However, a few grid-

so far, largest plant with 10 000 m2 of solar to a district

has

is mainly used in stand-alone

connected

connected

the

Sweden, solar power from photovoltaic modules

still the leading country with 21 plants with and the,

Solar Centre

renewable energy by 10 TWh by 2010.

starting to be replaced by cheaper fuels such

companies

Energy tech-

will give leading

in the field of renewables

opportunity

to presenr

their

the

products.

Technical Tours will take the participants to a number

of interesting

lations in Sweden. For further information ISES

SOLAR

WORLD

2003,

c/o Congrex

energy instalplease contact: CONGRESS

Goteborg

AB, I?O.

Box 5078, S-402 22 Goteborg , Sweden. Tel: +46 31 708 6000; 6025; E-mail:

Fax: +46 708

[email protected];

to change taxation of electricity

certifi-

www.congrex.comlises2003

cates in 2003 in order to increase the use of

September/October

2002

REFOCUS

www.re-focmnet

49