Sweden unveils 'ambitious' clean energy strategy

[one...two...tree 2,762]

STOCKHOLM -- Sweden's government on Wednesday presented what it described as Europe's "most ambitious" strategy to improve energy efficiency and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

"As the first industrialized country, we are presenting a concrete plan towards becoming independent of fossil fuels and reducing emissions to a level that the climate requires," Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren said.

The government said it now aims by 2020 for renewable energy to comprise 50 percent of all energy produced, for the Swedish car fleet to be independent of fossil fuels 10 years later and for the country to be carbon neutral by 2050.

"The proposal we are presenting is as a whole the most ambitious climate and energy policy presented by any European country," the statement said.

The centre-right coalition said it would among other things hike taxes on cars related to carbon dioxide emissions, reduce taxes on clean-fuel cars and increase investments in carbon offset projects in developing countries.

The government will double its annual contribution to energy efficiency measures to SEK300 million (€27 million, $34 million) between 2010 and 2014.

The targets presented Wednesday were bolder than those set last year when the European Commission presented individual targets for reducing CO2 emissions for each of the 27 members, handing Sweden one of the heaviest burdens in its aim to cut the E.U.'s overall emissions by 20 percent from 1990 levels by 2020.

Sweden, which now plans to slash its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent from its 1990 levels within the next 11 years, was asked to cut CO2 output by just 17 percent.

"We are now raising our ambition level and increasing our climate policy pace," Carlgren said, adding that "Swedish businesses can become world leaders in the transformation of transportation and housing."

Sweden, which will take over the EU presidency in July, wants to secure its leadership on the issue ahead of the signing of a new global pact on climate change in Copenhagen in December, he said.

source: Agence France-Presse

[fozzie 41]

Good effort. It will be tough though.

[Peikko 1,575]

STOCKHOLM -- Sweden's government on Wednesday presented what it described as Europe's "most ambitious" strategy to improve energy efficiency and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

"As the first industrialized country, we are presenting a concrete plan towards becoming independent of fossil fuels and reducing emissions to a level that the climate requires," Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren said.

The government said it now aims by 2020 for renewable energy to comprise 50 percent of all energy produced, for the Swedish car fleet to be independent of fossil fuels 10 years later and for the country to be carbon neutral by 2050.

"The proposal we are presenting is as a whole the most ambitious climate and energy policy presented by any European country," the statement said.

The centre-right coalition said it would among other things hike taxes on cars related to carbon dioxide emissions, reduce taxes on clean-fuel cars and increase investments in carbon offset projects in developing countries.

The government will double its annual contribution to energy efficiency measures to SEK300 million (€27 million, $34 million) between 2010 and 2014.

The targets presented Wednesday were bolder than those set last year when the European Commission presented individual targets for reducing CO2 emissions for each of the 27 members, handing Sweden one of the heaviest burdens in its aim to cut the E.U.'s overall emissions by 20 percent from 1990 levels by 2020.

Sweden, which now plans to slash its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent from its 1990 levels within the next 11 years, was asked to cut CO2 output by just 17 percent.

"We are now raising our ambition level and increasing our climate policy pace," Carlgren said, adding that "Swedish businesses can become world leaders in the transformation of transportation and housing."

Sweden, which will take over the EU presidency in July, wants to secure its leadership on the issue ahead of the signing of a new global pact on climate change in Copenhagen in December, he said.

source: Agence France-Presse

In US terms, right of what?

Good for the swedes though, they have their hearts in the right place on a worldly scale.

[almaty 19]

good going sweden

[fozzie 41]

good going sweden

Solar Paower might be tough in the winter though

[one...two...tree 2,762]

good going sweden

Solar Paower might be tough in the winter though

Isn't it in Sweden where they have the hot springs? Geo-thermal is another good source of energy.

[Peikko 1,575]

Iceland, I think.

[fozzie 41]

good going sweden

Solar Paower might be tough in the winter though

Isn't it in Sweden where they have the hot springs? Geo-thermal is another good source of energy.

I'm sure they have lots of sources. They have coastlines so wind and tidal could also be effective. Although, there is nothing finer to look at on a beautiful swedish landscape than a coal fired power station.

Iceland, I think.

Edited March 31, 2009 by fozzie

[one...two...tree 2,762]

good going sweden

Solar Paower might be tough in the winter though

Isn't it in Sweden where they have the hot springs? Geo-thermal is another good source of energy.

I'm sure they have lots of sources. They have coastlines so wind and tidal could also be effective. Although, there is nothing finer to look at on a beautiful swedish landscape than a coal fired power station.

...I love the smell of napalm in the morning.

[fozzie 41]

good going sweden

Solar Paower might be tough in the winter though

Isn't it in Sweden where they have the hot springs? Geo-thermal is another good source of energy.

I'm sure they have lots of sources. They have coastlines so wind and tidal could also be effective. Although, there is nothing finer to look at on a beautiful swedish landscape than a coal fired power station.

...I love the smell of napalm in the morning.

mmm...victory.

[NickD 203]

"Embassy Stockholm's "One Big Thing" Alternative Energy Initiative

In September 2006 Embassy Stockholm launched the "One Big Thing" initiative, a mission-wide project to collaborate with Sweden on achieving a breakthrough in alternative energy. As the Embassy's highest priority, the One Big Thing encompasses four goals focusing on technology/research and development; financing and investment; public awareness; and policy. Accomplishments to date include a $5 million grant from the U.S. Government's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for Swedish Biofuels AB, a company that produces biofuels for jet engines. The Embassy assisted Volvo in bringing its public/private partnership funding proposal for research on improved efficiency for heavy trucks to the attention of senior Department of Energy (DOE) officials, resulting in a $12 million agreement between the two governments and Volvo to fund several different projects. The Embassy arranged for the Saab 9.5 Biofuel car to be sent to DOE for testing to validate performance claims. In April 2007 Ambassador Wood introduced 30 Swedish alternative energy companies to American venture capital firms at a California seminar."

Exactly how many MacDonalds with left over french fry oil does Sweden have? And does Macs really dump their old oil or just keep adding to it. If their is a sufficient amount, are they going to use fossil fuel vehicles to pick it up? Or are they planning on piping it to the processing plant? What will run the processing plant.

Has to be an ambitous plan, we, the USA taxpayers are funding it.

[fozzie 41]

"Embassy Stockholm's "One Big Thing" Alternative Energy Initiative

In September 2006 Embassy Stockholm launched the "One Big Thing" initiative, a mission-wide project to collaborate with Sweden on achieving a breakthrough in alternative energy. As the Embassy's highest priority, the One Big Thing encompasses four goals focusing on technology/research and development; financing and investment; public awareness; and policy. Accomplishments to date include a $5 million grant from the U.S. Government's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for Swedish Biofuels AB, a company that produces biofuels for jet engines. The Embassy assisted Volvo in bringing its public/private partnership funding proposal for research on improved efficiency for heavy trucks to the attention of senior Department of Energy (DOE) officials, resulting in a $12 million agreement between the two governments and Volvo to fund several different projects. The Embassy arranged for the Saab 9.5 Biofuel car to be sent to DOE for testing to validate performance claims. In April 2007 Ambassador Wood introduced 30 Swedish alternative energy companies to American venture capital firms at a California seminar."

Exactly how many MacDonalds with left over french fry oil does Sweden have? And does Macs really dump their old oil or just keep adding to it. If their is a sufficient amount, are they going to use fossil fuel vehicles to pick it up? Or are they planning on piping it to the processing plant? What will run the processing plant.

Has to be an ambitous plan, we, the USA taxpayers are funding it.

'tis a tricky road but will be worth it in the end. Not every project or idea is going to be the next big thing but the funding to research it is vital in finding out. The ultimate goal is to have an easily renewable and abundant energy source that will be clean and cheap. Oil, coal and gas polute the atmosphere, we no this and no one denies it. They are limited in their availability which means that it will be open to fluctuations in price and IT WILL RUN OUT!. The suns energy is abundant and can power the world. More money and research needs to be done on Solar power to make it more efficient and practical. I dont see the upside to biofuels but wind ans solar will eventually replace fossil fuels.

[NickD 203]

It's just that when you read a very enthusiastic article with no hard facts, tend to read it as more BS, plenty of that going around. Biofuels is one of them, also carbon based contradictory reduced CO2 missions, requires farmland to produce the plants competing with our own food supply, and a single SUV can consume more of this "food", than a thousand families in a period of one year. But even the UW is trying to use biological means to produce these fuels rather than the heat of fossil fuels. Kind of an indirect means to obtain energy with the corresponding conversion losses people tend to overlook.

The fossil fuel requirements to produce photovoltaic cells can be equal or more than the amount of energy they can produce over their lifespan, and wind power can kill birds, dumb birds, but nevertheless, birds. Can't have tidal power either, will spoil the view and mangle sealife.

Hydrogen and electricity are not energy sources, but are an inefficient means as energy media as well as batteries and hybrid vehicles, the fuel cell is really a dead end investment. The only true energy source with have any hopes with is nuclear fusion, but very little research is being done on that.

Just BS, all BS, getting sick of hearing it.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It's just that when you read a very enthusiastic article with no hard facts, tend to read it as more BS, plenty of that going around. Biofuels is one of them, also carbon based contradictory reduced CO2 missions, requires farmland to produce the plants competing with our own food supply, and a single SUV can consume more of this "food", than a thousand families in a period of one year. But even the UW is trying to use biological means to produce these fuels rather than the heat of fossil fuels. Kind of an indirect means to obtain energy with the corresponding conversion losses people tend to overlook.

The fossil fuel requirements to produce photovoltaic cells can be equal or more than the amount of energy they can produce over their lifespan, and wind power can kill birds, dumb birds, but nevertheless, birds. Can't have tidal power either, will spoil the view and mangle sealife.

Hydrogen and electricity are not energy sources, but are an inefficient means as energy media as well as batteries and hybrid vehicles, the fuel cell is really a dead end investment. The only true energy source with have any hopes with is nuclear fusion, but very little research is being done on that.

Just BS, all BS, getting sick of hearing it.

Good grief, you're thick, Nick. I think you should start reading the latest science and technology journals. I don't know what you are basing your understanding of this technology, but you are way behind.

Edited March 31, 2009 by Mister Fancypants

[Peikko 1,575]

You are thick Nick? Steven where are your manners today?