Alternative Pathways to a fossil-fuel free energy system in the Mälardalen region of Sweden

• This paper presents a study on alternative pathways to a fossil-fuel free regional energy system in the Mälardalen region of Sweden with a population of 3 million inhabitants. We describe and address how the region can be made independent of fossil fuels by integration of resource management, technology advances, and behavior change in energy use. First we investigate the consumption pattern of the inhabitants. Then we study what resources are available, and how these can be used to fulfill the different demands. If we just use the resources in a pattern of business as usual today without changing the behavior, the balance between demands and resources is difficult to reach. By combining a slightly different behavior and a change of crops it could be possible to fulfill the needs. Some advanced technological solutions have also been proposed. For example, dedicated biomass energy plants such as fodder sugar beats can be used for ethanol production. Also Salix, straw, hemp and some cereals can be used and the residues can be gasified to produce dimethylether (DME), which is good as a replacement for diesel fuel. Still the fuel demand for transport is high, and the vehicle weight could be further reduced. For example, by going back to the car size we had only ten years ago the weight would be 25-30 % less, and fuel consumption would be at least 15 % lower. With diesel engines instead of Otto-engines the fuel consumption could be reduced by 35 %, and with hybrid technology additional 20% fuel reduction could be gained. Improved public transportation will also give a positive effect especially for those commuting between the larger cities and between the cities and the suburbs. The results of our calculations show that it would be possible to accomplish a fossil-free energy system in the Mälardalen region. The results of this study are important since it shows that an energy balance without fossil fuels could be possible for an area with a population in the order of 3 million people, which would also be valuable in studies of other areas in the world.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Naturresursteknik -- Energisystem (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Environmental Engineering -- Energy Systems (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

energy

fuel

bioenergy

renewable

fossil-fuel free

energy system

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)