Swedens bio region
The Swedish county of Jönköping aims at energy self-sufficiency by 2050.
When finished, Jönköpings new house of culture will be a plus energy building, with 1500 square meters of solar cells on its roof and heated by district heating (Photo:Landstinget i Jönköping län).
In the center of southern Sweden lies the city of Jönköping, the nineth most populous city of Sweden. Every second year they host the World Bioenergy conference, which has given the city the title “the bioenergy capital of the world”. In 2010 the conference attracted over 4000 visitors from 50 countries. One reason for the great international interest in World Bioenergy and Jönköping is that Sweden uses the greatest proportion of bioenergy in the world. This means that around Jönköping there are plenty of opportunities for study tours to everything from small-scale heating plants to large-scale production of biogas, pellets and district heating.
Combined heat and power
Just south of Jönköping lies Torsvik combined heat and powerplant. Since 2006 this plant has converted waste into heat and energy, delivering district heating to around 30,000 houses, flats offices and shops; and electricity sufficient to power 15,000 small homes. Recently plans for another combined heat and powerplant in Torsvik which will be ready by 2013, was announced. The plant will be powered by biofuel and is expected to produce around 110 MW of energy. This power plant will further reduce the use of oil for heating in the county. Today 82 % of the fuel used at Jönköping energy company comes from renewable sources.
Biogas
The area also has great potential for biogas-production. Solid biomass is not only produced, processed and used for the heat and/or power in the region, landfill and biogas is also used. Biogas is produced mainly from waste water treatment plants and upgraded for use as vehicle fuel. From the inhabitants of Jönköping’s food waste, the county has calculated that they produce enough renewable fuel to drive Jönköping – Rome 3840 times. The biogas is sold by FordonsGas which build and run biogas filling stations across Sweden.
Bioregion
Jönköping is also part of the European Union's Bioregions project, supporting the creation of "bio energy regions" in Europe. A "bioenergy region" gets at least 1/3 of its heating and electricity needs from regional and sustainable bioenergy sources, with main focus on solid biomass. Jönköping is presented as one of the "best practice" regions.
A green future
In their Climate and Energy Strategy, the county of Jönköping has put forth ambitious goals for the future:
- By 2050 they aim at being self sufficient with energy and that their energy needs are reduced with 40 % compared to 2007.
- By 2050 the county will produce at least 9 000 GWh of renewable energy.
- By 2015 CO2-emissions from transportation will be 10 % lower than in 2002.
Further reading
More about combined heat and powerplants in Jönköping and Sweden here.
What's on in Jönköping?
Jönköping will host the Nordic District Heating Fair in 2011 and World Bio Energy in 2012.
