Making Sweden an Oil-Free Society

As a Swedish oil exit the announcement by the Swedish government is called from 2005 to 2020 want to be independent of oil and other ' fossil fuels '.

In order to achieve this goal is to be massively reduced according to the recommendations of an expert committee, the use of non-renewable energy sources for road transport and in industry. In addition, all buildings will be heated in the future only with renewable energy sources. The overall energy efficiency would have to increase by 20 percent.

Whether the announcement is actually implemented, however, is questionable after the ruling Social Democratic Labour Party of Sweden was replaced in September 2006 election of the Conservative Conservative The moderate party collection. However, the Committee makes recommendations remain of international interest.

Political objective

The tolerated by the Greens and the Left Party Social Democratic minority government led by Göran Persson consists of 2005 for a radical shift from fossil fuels. Sweden should be the first country that is independent of fossil fuels worldwide.

For the following four reasons are given:

• The impact of oil prices on growth and employment in the Swedish economy;
• The interaction between oil, peace and security around the world;
• The great potential of Sweden to use their own renewable energy instead of oil;
• The threat of climate change as a result of extensive burning of fossil fuels.

Although a complete cessation of energy supply on the basis of oil is not intended that 2020 is regarded as an objective for the " oil exit in Sweden ".

Committee for oil independence

To find proposals to reduce dependence on oil, the government is establishing in 2006 a committee for oil independence a ( Komiteeen för att Bryta oljeberoendet i Sverige till år 2020), titled by the Prime Minister Göran Persson. The participating scientists, farmers, representatives of the energy and automotive industries as well as public administration work then the detailed report "Making Sweden to OIL -FREE Society ." This was completed in June 2006 and submitted to Parliament.

The Committee recommends that it be established by the year 2020 the following objectives:

• The use of fossil fuels in road transport should be reduced by 40 to 50 percent.
• The use of fossil fuels in the industry is to be reduced by 25 to 40 percent.
• All buildings will be heated nurmehr future with renewable energy sources.
• Energy efficiency to be increased by a total of 20 percent.

Long term, the objective is for replacing petroleum with renewable energy and energy saving measures, and thus the consumption of fossil fuels cease completely. Sweden promoted so that the turnaround in energy policy, which was started during the oil price shocks of the 1970s. 1970 Sweden still covered 77 percent of its total energy consumption by oil. By 2006, the proportion was down to about 34 percent. The remaining portion is largely from nuclear and hydroelectric power generated (2003 33.5 % per year).

The planned reduction of carbon emissions is to be achieved in part by making the proposals of the committee. The at the time of reporting, incumbent energy minister Mona Sahlin notes: " There will always be better alternatives to oil This means that no budget need oil for heating, and no driver should be dependent only on gasoline.. " It is also expected that the oil exit strengthens Sweden's role in sustainable development and international competitiveness in the economic sphere grows.

Energy sources

Technical solutions include under these conditions, the development of solar cells, wind farms, wave power plants, a large increase in district heating systems, the increased use of heat pumps and the cultivation of domestic biofuels. It is expected that research, development and commercialization of these technologies are supported by the government.

The Committee also recommends that the government should not promote an increase in the use of natural gas, as it is feared that this would inhibit the development of biofuels and promote the use of gas as an oil substitute.

Energy consumption

To reduce energy consumption, sees the committee before that by 2020 at least 75 percent of all new buildings be operated below the energy technical requirement levels, similar to the building standard in Germany. Furthermore, it is necessary to modernize existing homes, which includes the conversion of heating systems to district heating, biofuels or heat pumps.

Furthermore, the government hopes this measure increased use of work outside a company, video conferencing, web conferencing, public transportation, waterways, hybrid drives and smaller, lighter powered with biodiesel cars.

With the reduced consumption in the industry, the Swedish rules for the allocation of emission allowances provides for a reduction of 25 % of their initial levels by 2020.

Presumably, the tax system, education and public initiatives to influence energy decisions will be used.

Development

Upon publication of the committee recommendations by the national automotive industry (BIL Sweden) were supported. The timber industry on the other side was against the recommendations, as they feared that domestically produced profitable exports from low-income domestic productions are traded biofuels.

The future of the recommendations is uncertain due to the defeat of the party of the Prime Minister ( Social Democratic Labour Party of Sweden ) at the September 2006 elections. The Committee makes recommendations remain of international interest.

2008 came, 43% of primary energy from renewable energy in Sweden. Sweden was so leaders in the EU. Currently there is no official policy targets an oil-free society within a certain period of time to achieve. The Centerpartiet has, however, proposed to ban until 2025/30 gasoline vehicles of the Swedish road and by 2020, oil heaters from the apartments.