Reviewing the environmental implications of increased consumption and trade of biofuels for transportation in Sweden

ABSTRACT

Sweden, a European leader in the consumption of biofuels, has surpassed targets set by the EU and is one of a few countries that has increased consumption of biofuels in recent years. Nonetheless, a large share of biofuels, and raw materials used to produce the fuels, are imported from regions outside Sweden. This paper reviews the environmental implications of consumption of biofuels in Sweden 2000–2014 to identify and provide a comprehensive assessment of the environmental impacts that imports of fuels have both in Sweden and abroad using life cycle assessment (LCA). The results suggest that while greenhouse gas emissions may have been reduced in Sweden by the use of biofuels, the origin of the emissions has shifted from Sweden to Europe and other countries abroad, due in part to an increased use of biofuels and raw materials from abroad. This has important implications for local impacts, as this may increase acidification and eutrophication potential and ecotoxicity created abroad. Thus, although policy has been designed to promote sustainable transportation fuels, in addition to the generation goals set by the Swedish Parliament, the implications on regions exporting fuels and raw materials for Swedish consumption should be reviewed and followed in further detail in order to avoid problem shifting.

KEYWORDS:

• Biofuel
• consumption
• LCA
• hybrid
• ethanol

Acknowledgements

This publication is the result of a project within the Renewable Fuels and Systems program (Samverkansprogrammet Förnybara drivmedel och system), financed by the Swedish Energy Agency and the Swedish Knowledge Centre for Renewable Transportation Fuels (f3) under grant f3:6-15. The f3 Centre contributes, through knowledge based on science, to the development of environmentally, economically and socially sustainable and renewable transportation fuels, as part of a future sustainable society (see www.f3centre.se). We would also like to thank the IVL-Swedish Environmental Research Institute for financial support to complete the article and to the biofuel producers providing input for this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. HVO includes also hydro-treated fats and other oils

2. GWP is measured in CO₂-equivalent emissions, AP is measured in equivalent mol H+, EP (marine) is measured in equivalent kg N, EP (freshwater) is measured in equivalent kg P, and ecotoxicity is measured in in comparative toxic units (CTUe), an estimate of the potentially affected fraction of species integrated over time and volume, per unit mass of a chemical emitted [25].

3. In this case, the production origins of the fuels refer only to where the ready fuels are produced and not raw materials.

4. Once again, biogas was assumed to be produced only from Swedish raw materials.

5. In the Renewable Energy Directive, biofuels are assumed to have no CO₂-eq tailpipe emissions.

Additional information

Funding

f3-Swedish Knowledge Center for Renewable Transportation Fuels. We would like to thank the f3-Swedish Knowledge Center for Renewable Transportation and the Swedish Energy Agency for providing funding for this project under grant f3:6-15 and to the biofuel producers providing input for this study.