Jönköping Sweden

Located in the south central part of Sweden, the County of Jönköping is subdivided into 13 local municipalities with a population of just over 333 000.  About 30 % of the population lives in rural areas outside of urban centers. With a total area of 10 475 km, the county has a population density of about 32 inhabitants/km which is higher than the national average of 22/km. The county capital is Jönköping, the ninth largest city in Sweden (population roughly 118 000).

1.2 Land use

About 76 % of land is forested (production forest and protected) which is significantly higher than the national average of about 56 %. Agricultural land (grazing pastures and arable land) account for about 15 %, again higher than the national average of just over 8 %. Mires (both protected and commercial) on the other hand account for 6 % which is less than the national average of 11 %.

1.3 Economic framework conditions

Jönköping County has a geographical position that gives it a uniquely strategic location. Almost equidistant between the three large population centres of Stockholm, Göteborg and Malmö it is where the transport infrastructure intersects making it a dynamic hub for the transportation of goods and people and a logistics growth area. The region has a relatively varied industry sector structure with many SME’s and known for its entrepreneurship. It is one of the most industrialised regions in the country with a vibrant manufacturing industry that employs nearly 1/3 of the region’s labour force, almost double the national average. Wood processing including biomass, furniture manufacturing, light engineering, metalworking, plastics and rubber are all key manufacturing/processing sectors in the region.

1.4 Current energy mix

The total energy input and usage of just over 12.2 TWh (2007) for the county. The regions own production of electricity (supplied to the grid) is very low, currently about 1 % of the electricity used in the region. This electricity comes from different renewable sources including small‐scale hydro and wind as well as biomass and municipal waste fired combined heat and power (CHP) plants. However the actual production of electricity is higher as a number of industries in the region especially within the pulp, paper and wood processing industries generate and utilise their own electricity using by‐products from their own production. Furthermore at 37 % oil products still account for the largest energy input which is chiefly attributed to the transport sector (32 %) with the reminder used in industry, agriculture and as reserve/start‐up fuel for heating. The use of fossil fuels (coal, heating oil, lignite, coke, natural gas) has almost entirely been phased out for space heating (commercial, industrial and domestic) being replaced mainly by biomass as shown in the examples of biomass projects. Currently only 2 of the 13 municipalities do not have district heating (DH) networks. Biomass is the dominant fuel for DH plants in the other municipalities ranging from 82 % to 100 % share whereas two, Eksjö and Jönköping, use also municipal solid waste as fuel.

1.5 Example of existing projects

There is a whole range of biomass and biomass related projects such as logistics, upgrading,processing, distribution, conversions recently completed or in progress throughout the region. For instance there are three larger wood pelleting plants operating in the region. To illustrate with some examples of larger projects typically commissioned to accommodate expansion of existing district heating (DH) networks. 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. For example the city of Jönköping has an upgrading facility and recently installed two more refuelling points in the city as demand increases. Additional biogas projects in Sävsjö and Gislaved are looking at using agricultural feedstock. 1.6 Political commitment The Regional Development Council (RDC) has been commissioned by the Government to write a regional development programme. Jönköping County’s development programme emphasises the human aspect and the importance of the social environment for regional development. The County Administrative Board very recently drafted a document entitled “Climate – and Energy Strategy with New Climate Objectives for the County of Jönköping” based on the new national 2020 climate and energy objectives. This draft document is currently on public review and contains ambitious short, medium and long‐term objectives for the county in terms of becoming net “exporters” of renewable energy while reducing the carbon footprint. This is to be achieved through increased energy efficiency and replacing fossil fuels in all sectors of society with renewable energy sources. Biomass from forestry and agriculture are two areas identified which can be further developed along with other renewables such as wind and solar.