Why is Sweden an example to be mimicked in the green sector?
The current population of Sweden is 10,006,824 based on the latest United Nations estimates (Worldometers, 2018). The GDP growth for Sweden in 2017 was at 2.3%. This places Sweden in 23rd place of top countries with the highest GDP (Worldatlas, 2017). According to the World Economic Forum, Galvan (2015) provided information about the Swedish economy, and it places 5th in the Top European economies. Regarding energy production, Sweden had reached the government’s 2020 target of 50 percent renewable electricity production. For the energy sector, the target is 100 percent electricity production from renewable resources by 2040 (Sweden Sverige, 2018). Sweden has a rich supply of moving water and biomass, which contributes to the country a high share of renewable energy. Hydropower and bioenergy are the top renewable sources in Sweden – hydropower mostly for electricity production and bioenergy for heating. The renewable share of total energy consumption in 1990 was at 33% and in 2016 increased to 54% (Seden Sverige, 2018). Sweden applies energy policies and technologies that allow her to reduce carbon emissions while aiming at energy security, accessibility, and sustainability and while having high energy consumption, manages to have low carbon dioxide emissions.
Picture 1. Sweden’s location in the European map (in red), Sweden’s coat of arms and flag. (Wikipedia, 2018)
Sweden’s Energy Trilemma
Sweden is in the third place, following Denmark and Switzerland on the 2018 Trilemma Index Rankings by the World Energy Council with score AAA. The country continues to manage the energy trilemma excellently (World Energy Council, 2018). The main reason for the high rank is that Sweden has an internal energy market which ensures its energy security and has an almost carbon-free electricity supply (IEA, 2018). Karlsonn (2010) point out that despite Sweden’s lack of indigenous fossil energy resources, is reasonably secure compared to other countries and it supplies energy from Norway which is secure and reliable oil supplier compared to other oil producers.
Despite the positives, however, Sweden should pay attention to two significant issues. Firstly, the transport sector relies on fossil fuels. Special policies and financial support to incentivize the purchase of electric cars are in place, but results are not yet meeting expectations. Secondly, Sweden relies 34.19% on nuclear energy for electricity generation. Policymakers need to focus on finding a solution to replace the existing ten nuclear reactors that will be taken out of operation to meet future electricity demand (World Energy Council, 2018).
Carbon Emissions and Removals
In 2015, greenhouse gas emissions in Sweden totaled 53.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (Mt CO2-eq.). Total emissions have decreased by 18.2 Mt CO2-eq, or 25% between 1990 and 2015. In 2015, emissions of CO2 amounted to 43.1 Mt in total, equivalent to 81% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Recent years have seen a downward trend in emissions. The projection results indicate a gradual decline in total emissions of greenhouse gases over the projection period (Table 1). By 2020 and 2030, aggregate emissions are projected to be 30% and 36% lower respectively, than in 1990 (Ministry of the Environment and Energy, 2017).
Table 1. Historical and projected emissions and removals of greenhouse gases by sector (million tonnes CO2 – equivalents) Source: Ministry of the Environment and Energy, 2017
Fig. 1. Estimated emissions without measures compared with historic and projected emissions with existing measures Source: Ministry of the Environment and Energy, 2017
The decrease in carbon emissions in the transport sector
The decrease in emissions since 2006 can be attributed to policy instruments introduced both nationally and at the EU level. The most significant ones include emission performance standards for new vehicles, vehicle taxes and vehicle fuel taxes. These have resulted in more energy-efficient vehicles and a greater use of renewable fuels. The local climate investment program has granted support for infrastructure for the introduction of electrical vehicles. In the budget proposal for 2018, the government proposes the introduction of a bonusmalus – system for the purchase of new light vehicles and an emission reduction obligation for petrol and diesel to further spur emission reductions in the sector. Moreover, the Government proposes that a tax on air travel will be introduced with the aim to reduce the climate impact of aviation (Ministry of the Environment and Energy, 2017).
Research and Development
Swedish climate-relate research covers a broad spectrum, from natural sciences to humanities, but with an emphasis on technical and scientific research and development. The overall objective of energy research and innovation in Sweden is to contribute to fulfilling the national energy and climate objectives, the long-term energy and climate policy, and energy-related environmental objectives. In the budget bill for 2017 (Govt. Bill 2016/17:1), has been approved by the Parliament, the Government proposed expansion of contributions to energy research and development with funding of SEK 620 million for 2017-2020. The Swedish Energy’s research and innovation program is based on Government Bill 2016/17:66(Research and innovation in the energy sector for sustainable ecology, competition and security of supply), It takes its starting point in five different societal challenges:
A 100% renewable energy system
A flexible and robust energy system
A resource – efficient society
Innovation for jobs and climate
Collaboration in the energy system
It has therefore been decided to establish a National ten- year Research Program for Climate and to increase funding by SEK 130 million by 2020 (Ministry of the Environment and Energy, 2017).
References
Worldatlas (2017) Countries With The Highest GDP. Available at: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/countries-with-the-highest-gdp.html (Accessed: 5 November 2018).
World Energy Council (2018) WEC Trilemma: Country profile. Available at: https://trilemma.worldenergy.org/#!/country-profile?country=Sweden&year=2018 (Accessed: 10 November 2018)
Worldometers (2018) Sweden Population (live). Available at: http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/sweden-population/ (Accessed: 5 November 2018).
Wikipedia (2018) Coat of arms of Sweden. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Sweden (Accessed: 5 November 2018)
Sweden Sverige (2018) Energy use in Sweden. Available at: https://sweden.se/society/energy-use-in-sweden/ (Accessed: 5 November 2018).
International Energy Agency (2018) Addressing Climate Change. Policies and Measures Databases. Available at: https://www.iea.org/policiesandmeasures/climatechange/?country=Sweden (Accessed: 5 November 2018)
Ministry of the Environment and Energy (2017) Sweden’s Seventh National Communication on Climate Change. Available at: https://unfccc.int/files/national_reports/annex_i_natcom_/application/pdf/6950713_sweden-nc7-1-swe_nc7_20171222.pdf (Accessed: 5 November 2018)
