Biotech Updates

Sweden Biofuels Report 2009

September 25, 2009
http://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/Biofuels%20Annual_Stockholm_Sweden_6-24-2009.pdf

From the 2009 country biofuel reports of the Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), some of the highlights of the biofuels situation in Sweden are: (1) Sweden is reported to have one of the most ambitious policies for renewable energy. It presently obtains about 28% of its energy supply from renewable sources, and is targeting 50% by 2020, and eventually 100% by 2050;  (2) The use of ethanol and biodiesel is promoted through tax incentives, as well as other policy instruments, including increased biofuel blending mandates, initiatives for plug-in hybrids, and support for second generation biofuels; (3) The main biofuel feedstocks are cereal-based (80%) and wood-based (20%, from wood-processing waste streams) for ethanol, and rapeseed for biodiesel; (4) Biodiesel utilization in Sweden is not as rapid as ethanol utilization; (5) About 90% of bioenergy comes from the forestry sector ; and (6) In addition to liquid biofuels, biogas is also used as a transport biofuel in the country with many local buses and distribution vehicles running on biogas..