Proceedings World Bioenergy 2010

8 world bioenergy 2010
WORLD BIOENERGY CONFERENCE 2010, OPENING SESSION 25 MAY
BIOENERGY OUTRIVALS OIL IN SWEDEN,
SHOWING THAT GROWTH IN A GREEN ECONOMY IS POSSIBLE.
Gustav Melin
President
Swedish Bioenergy Association
Torsgatan 12
111 23 Stockholm
Sweden
ABSTRACT: From a situation when use of fossil oil covered 77 per cent of the Swedish energy mix in the 1970-ties,
Bioenergy is since 2009 the number one energy source when counting final energy use in Sweden. The last 20 years the
economy (GDP) grow by 45 per cent and emissions of green house gases decreases by 12 per cent. This paper gives a
background to why this development has taken place. It also claims that the same decisions and development is possible
in any country and will lead to positive economical development and reduced emissions. The main instrument used is the
carbon dioxide tax, a most efficient instrument to combat climat change.
Keywords: Bioenergy policy, Bioenergy financing, strategy, CO 2 emission reduction, carbon dioxide tax.
1. BIOENERGY SURPASS OIL IN SWEDEN
In April 2010 the Swedish Bioenergy Association
calculated official Swedish energy statistics
published by the Swedish Energy Agency. Svebio
were able to announce that Bioenergy was the
number one energy source in Swedish energy
consumption. The use of bioenergy exceeded the use
of fossil oil for energy. Actually the use of
Bioenergy has increased in a rate corresponding to
an additional volume of 6400 cubic meters of oil
every week for almost 20 years. Clearly we had
foreseen that bioenergy would surpass oil any year
now, nevertheless it was a bit surprising that it
actually happened already in 2009.
For a long time there has been no doubt about the
direction, the use of renewable energy and especially
bioenergy has been growing for 30 years.
In the year 2009 bioenergy represented 31,7 per cent of
the total energy use. Almost one third of the energy use
from Bioenergy that’s a good figure.
However I have been working in this sector for more than
20 years. It has been a good development but it has not at
all been optimal. A similar or even faster change would
be possible in almost any country.
2. SWEDEN ALREADY NOW CLOSE TO REACH
2020 RENEWABLE TARGET
Then if we take a look at the share of renewables it was
already in 2009 46,3 per cent of the Swedish energy use.
The red curve is the obligated level of renewables for
Sweden according to the 2020-target. The blue curve is
the forecasted development with the current legislation
and incentives calculated by the Swedish Energy Agency.