Reducing dependency on oil

Energy issues are going to be increasingly significant for the environment in the future, as well as the economy and labour market. Karlskrona and other Swedish municipalities give advices to the consumers how to change the way of using energy, especially for heating. The options include replacing heating with fuel oil or electricity to heat pumps or boilers fired with biofuels, such as chips or pellets made of forest-based raw materials.

Karlskrona possesses already an extensive district heating network in its central areas. The district heating system is based on raw materials harvested from the forest and is currently being expanded. The municipality is also discussing a combined heat and power plant for which wood chips would be the main fuel.

The municipality has also invested in reducing dependency on oil for transports by introducing ethanol. Karlskrona has now about thirty vehicles that run on ethanol, E85, and it intends to increase the number of clean vehicles in the municipal fleet. A large percentage of them will probably run on ethanol but other types of clean vehicles are being studied as well. This effort means that the municipality is already working actively to improve the environment and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Karlskrona is now taking another step in the energy effort and establishing a special position to coordinate efforts concerning energy issues between the municipality and other actors. The latter may be consumers as well as private and public organisations. The idea is to optimise investment by having several actors jointly carrying out a project to change their energy consumption. The goals are to reduce dependency on oil and efficiently utilise various forms of state subsidies for energy transition and to reduce the greenhouse effect.

The Karlskrona's authorities will continue to provide energy advice to consumers. The municipality also sees opportunities for more effective participation in the regional partnerships with other municipalities and regions in efforts related to energy and the greenhouse effect. Karlskrona sees this initiative as a proactive investment in developing the municipality, improving the environment and reducing dependency on oil.

by Mr Sven-Olof Petersson