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H2O2 · #1 02-09-2006, 12:27 AM

Published on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 by the Guardian / UK
Sweden Plans to Be World's First Oil-Free Economy
· 15-year limit set for switch to renewable energy
· Biofuels favoured over further nuclear power
by John Vidal

Sweden is to take the biggest energy step of any advanced western economy by trying to wean itself off oil completely within 15 years - without building a new generation of nuclear power stations.

Sweden...gets almost all its electricity from nuclear and hydroelectric power, and relies on fossil fuels mainly for transport. Almost all its heating has been converted in the past decade to schemes which distribute steam or hot water generated by geothermal energy or waste heat.

The attempt by the country of 9 million people to become the world's first practically oil-free economy is being planned by a committee of industrialists, academics, farmers, car makers, civil servants and others, who will report to parliament in several months.

The intention, the Swedish government said yesterday, is to replace all fossil fuels with renewables before climate change destroys economies and growing oil scarcity leads to huge new price rises.

"Our dependency on oil should be broken by 2020," said Mona Sahlin, minister of sustainable development. "There shall always be better alternatives to oil, which means no house should need oil for heating, and no driver should need to turn solely to gasoline."

According to the energy committee of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, there is growing concern that global oil supplies are peaking and will shortly dwindle, and that a global economic recession could result from high oil prices.

Ms Sahlin has described oil dependency as one of the greatest problems facing the world. "A Sweden free of fossil fuels would give us enormous advantages, not least by reducing the impact from fluctuations in oil prices," she said. "The price of oil has tripled since 1996."

A government official said: "We want to be both mentally and technically prepared for a world without oil. The plan is a response to global climate change, rising petroleum prices and warnings by some experts that the world may soon be running out of oil."

Sweden, which was badly hit by the oil price rises in the 1970s, now gets almost all its electricity from nuclear and hydroelectric power, and relies on fossil fuels mainly for transport. Almost all its heating has been converted in the past decade to schemes which distribute steam or hot water generated by geothermal energy or waste heat. A 1980 referendum decided that nuclear power should be phased out, but this has still not been finalised.

The decision to abandon oil puts Sweden at the top of the world green league table. Iceland hopes by 2050 to power all its cars and boats with hydrogen made from electricity drawn from renewable resources, and Brazil intends to power 80% of its transport fleet with ethanol derived mainly from sugar cane within five years.

Last week George Bush surprised analysts by saying that the US was addicted to oil and should greatly reduce imports from the Middle East. The US now plans a large increase in nuclear power.

The British government, which is committed to generating 10% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2012, last month launched an energy review which has a specific remit to consider a large increase in nuclear power. But a report by accountants Ernst & Young yesterday said that the UK was falling behind in its attempt to meet its renewables target.

"The UK has Europe's best wind, wave and tidal resources yet it continues to miss out on its economic potential," said Jonathan Johns, head of renewable energy at Ernst & Young.

Energy ministry officials in Sweden said they expected the oil committee to recommend further development of biofuels derived from its massive forests, and by expanding other renewable energies such as wind and wave power.

Sweden has a head start over most countries. In 2003, 26% of all the energy consumed came from renewable sources - the EU average is 6%. Only 32% of the energy came from oil - down from 77% in 1970.

The Swedish government is working with carmakers Saab and Volvo to develop cars and lorries that burn ethanol and other biofuels. Last year the Swedish energy agency said it planned to get the public sector to move out of oil. Its health and library services are being given grants to convert from oil use and homeowners are being encouraged with green taxes. The paper and pulp industries use bark to produce energy, and sawmills burn wood chips and sawdust to generate power.

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006

aklim · #2 02-09-2006, 12:49 AM

2 things:

1. They are not going to be an "oil free" economy. Maybe and "oil free for electricity" economy. Maybe even an "oil free from gasoline" economy. However the taint of oil is still going to be there.

2. Even if they are 100% oil free, if the rest of the world tanks, so do they.

H2O2 · #3 02-09-2006, 12:56 AM

Leading by example is a "foreign" concept.

aklim · #4 02-09-2006, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2O2

Leading by example is a "foreign" concept.

Depends on whether anyone is going to follow, doesn't it? Can't lead if no one will follow. Still, like I said, they will not be truely "oil free" unless you change the defination and if the world tanks, so do they. Maybe a little later but still it will happen. Not saying it is a bad idea or a good one. FWIW, I think it is a good idea in theory, however, like communism or socialism, time will tell if it really works. I'm doubtful it will achieve the said aims but we shall see.

cmac2012 · #5 02-09-2006, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Depends on whether anyone is going to follow, doesn't it? Can't lead if no one will follow. Still, like I said, they will not be truely "oil free" unless you change the defination and if the world tanks, so do they. Maybe a little later but still it will happen. Not saying it is a bad idea or a good one. FWIW, I think it is a good idea in theory, however, like communism or socialism, time will tell if it really works. I'm doubtful it will achieve the said aims but we shall see.

The world will eventually have to follow. Oil will run out. Count on it. We use it about 1 million times faster than it is produced. When we run out is up for debate and conjecture, but we WILL run out, or our descendents, anyway.

If world economy starts to tank when oil supplies dwindle sharply, countries who adapted early will be in good position to sell alternative energy technologies to the grasshoppers of the world (you know, the ant vs. the grasshopper fable).

aklim · #6 02-09-2006, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

The world will eventually have to follow. Oil will run out. Count on it. We use it about 1 million times faster than it is produced. When we run out is up for debate and conjecture, but we WILL run out, or our descendents, anyway.

If world economy starts to tank when oil supplies dwindle sharply, countries who adapted early will be in good position to sell alternative energy technologies to the grasshoppers of the world (you know, the ant vs. the grasshopper fable).

Yes, oil will run out. When? Who knows. It was predicted almost a hundred years ago. Every time, it seems to somehow not run out. Oil wells that were dry 30 years ago are pumping oil again today. 1 million? Surely you jest.

Energy is only a small thing as far as I see. Wind, solar, etc, etc is going to take over the energy sector sooner or later. It is the by products that are hard to take up. Energy aside, how many products do you use that are not oil tainted? Here is another fable for you. I knew someone who was an alcoholic. He wised up and stopped drinking for 20 years. In the meantime, he took up pot smoking. He even lost a job because he failed a piss test when all he had to do was abstain for a month. So, what did he do in reality? Swap one addiction for another. So, all that will happen is we swap our oil addiction for another addiction.

Even in the movie Star Trek TNG where they have replicator technology, they seem to have friction with other races over resources.

cmac2012 · #7 02-09-2006, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2O2

Published on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 by the Guardian / UK
Sweden Plans to Be World's First Oil-Free Economy
· 15-year limit set for switch to renewable energy
· Biofuels favoured over further nuclear power
by John Vidal

A government official said: "We want to be both mentally and technically prepared for a world without oil. The plan is a response to global climate change, rising petroleum prices and warnings by some experts that the world may soon be running out of oil."

Said a mouthful there.

Quote:

Last week George Bush surprised analysts by saying that the US was addicted to oil and should greatly reduce imports from the Middle East. The US now plans a large increase in nuclear power.

Hidden the fine print of W's embrace of hydrogen is the news that nuclear power is the preferred method for generating the electricity needed to extact hydrogen from water. We'll need some large multiple, like 50 or more, of our current nuke plants to produce enough hydrogen to operate and auto and truck fleet like we now have.

Angel · #8 02-09-2006, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2O2

Published on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 by the Guardian / UK
The US now plans a large increase in nuclear power.

I would like to read more about this.... Or better yet, see it actually happen =)

-John

mikemover · #9 02-12-2006, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2O2

Published on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 by the Guardian / UK
Sweden Plans to Be World's First Oil-Free Economy
· 15-year limit set for switch to renewable energy
· Biofuels favoured over further nuclear power

A noble endeavor, to be sure. I hope they succeed, and I also hope they can do so without an unacceptable impact on their economy and/or lifestyle.

If so, they will provide a great model for the rest of us to follow.

I'm glad that nations are finally seeing the light concerning biofuels as well.... Hopefully the US won't lag too far behind... but I'm not going to hold my breath.

Aklim does have a point, though... They are NOT going to be truly "oil-free", unless they eliminate the use of ALL of the countless everyday items made with, plastics, rubber, and other petroleum based materials that EVERYONE uses on a daily basis. That would be quite an accomplishment... At least as much of a challenge as the energy and transportation aspect of it.

Mike

Vronsky · #10 02-13-2006, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikemover

...
I'm glad that nations are finally seeing the light concerning biofuels as well.... Hopefully the US won't lag too far behind... but I'm not going to hold my breath.

...

From what I've read, the US is actually far ahead in alternative fuels compared to other nations. Seems the end of cheap oil & the free market principle is sparking new business.

Botnst · #11 02-13-2006, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vronsky

From what I've read, the US is actually far ahead in alternative fuels compared to other nations. Seems the end of cheap oil & the free market principle is sparking new business.

That's as it should be in a free market system.

#12 02-13-2006, 09:41 AM

Only 9 million people? Doesn't just the city of Atlanta have 12 million or was that NYC?

mikemover · #13 02-13-2006, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by intelligent

Only 9 million people? Doesn't just the city of Atlanta have 12 million or was that NYC?

Atlanta has 4.5 million. NYC is much bigger, although I don't know the exact number.

But most of the concepts and technologies they are using are quite scalable....

With the exception of solar power. I'm still not sold on the idea, beyond simple systems such as a solar water heater for the home, solar exterior lighting for buildings, etc.

Solar-cell technology is still far too inefficient and space-wasting to be widely used in our electrical grid, etc. We'd have to cover THOUSANDS of square miles in solar panels.... something that most environmentalists would not be too happy about, eh?

Mike

mikemover · #14 02-13-2006, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

That's as it should be in a free market system.

Yep.

Mike

mikemover · #15 02-13-2006, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vronsky

From what I've read, the US is actually far ahead in alternative fuels compared to other nations.

Really? Surprising. Especially considering how unpopular diesel-engined cars are here, compared to Europe, Australia, and elsewhere....

I've seen little evidence of it, other than a few local enthusiasts who are into old MBs and VWs, like myself.

If you tell the average person in the US that you can run a diesel engine on waste cooking oil, they look at you like you have 7 eyes! Then they say, "Your car is a diesel?...Why?...I didn't know they still made those...."

Mike