National Activities - Sweden Ethanol as Transport Fuel in Sweden

Contacts
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Electricity : Liquid Biofuels and Biogas : National Activities - Sweden : Process Engineering : Solid Biofuels : Straw : Wood (Lignocellulose)

SUMMARY

In 1996, there will be approx. 300 heavy duty buses and trucks on the Swedish roads running on ethanol. Most of them are inner city buses using neat ethanol with additive for improved ignition. Some run on a diesel/ethanol mixture in fleet tests at five locations. Total consumption of ethanol to the buses will be about 12 000 m3 95 % ethanol/year.

200 Ford Taurus FFV (Flexible Fuel Vehicle) have been imported from USA for an extensive fleet test of cars, and give reason for build-up of an infrastructure of fuel stations. The demand for ethanol as fuel for the cars will be about 600 m3 100 % ethanol during 1997.

The consumption of ethanol for vehicles in Sweden will then be higher than the domestic supply. The present production of ethanol is based on the fermentation of sulphite liquor and produces 12 000 m3/year, 95% ethanol. Most of the production is sold for technical uses as solvent and additive. Imported wine ethanol from EU supplies most of the fuel market in Sweden at the moment. A first step to increase domestic production is to build one or two grain based plants for a total capacity of 100 000 m3 of ethanol. These plants could be in operation by the end of 1998. The next step is to invest in reference plants for ligno-cellulose based ethanol:

• One will be based on the SWAN Biomass enzyme process. Wheat straw and other annual cellulose crops will be used as raw material. Proposed location is the same site as an ethanol plant based on wheat grain.

• A second plant will be based on diluted acid hydrolysis and wood fibres from saw dust, forest chips etc. This plant will be located in connection with a chemical plant or a combined district heating and power station.

• A third plant will again be based on the SWAN Biomass enzyme process. The raw material is sorted waste paper and fibres, not reusable in the pulp and paper industry. This plant will be located in the Stockholm area.

These plants can be in operation by 1999-2000 and produce approx. 30-50 000m3 ethanol per annum, and 30-50 000 tons of lignin. The lignin is a renewable solid fuel, suitable for domestic heating in houses or power and district heating plants. Ethanol plants with higher capacity, based on the techniques above, can not be in operation before 2002, if the experiences from the first plants are to be used.

It is difficult to judge the development beyond the year 2000. A study done by SSEU together with the authorities shows a potential increase from the 150 000m3 year 2000 to approx. 1.200.000 till 2010. This corresponds to about 15% of the transport fuel market in Sweden.

Contacts

Project Leader

• Mr Jan Lindstedt / Bioalcohol Fuel Foundation SWEDEN