Introduction

In 1999, the municipality of Kristianstad declared its commitment to become a Fossil Fuel Free Municipality.  The reduction of fossil fuels is aimed to be achieved primarily by the use of bio-fuels, both biomass as fuel for heating and production of electricity and biogas as fuel for local buses and other vehicles.

Objectives and target audience

The aim of this project/process is for the municipality as a whole to become fossil fuel free in the future.  This applies to all sectors, such as heating and transportation.  The project is targeted at households and enterprises as well as the municipal organisation itself.

Financial Resources and Partners involved

The project is too extensive and has too many partners involved to give a budget overview.  However, the municipality and its partners have received 9 million Euros in state allowances since 2004, which has resulted in local investments many times bigger.

Process

The following initiatives were undertaken as a result of this process:-

• Allöverket: Combined power and heating plant in Kristianstad, fuelled by biomass. Established in 1994;
• Karpalund: Biogas production plant using organic waste, both from households and food industry, and manure. The biogas is used as vehicle fuel and in district heating. Established in 1997;
• Biogas production from the sewage plant to be used as fuel for buses and other vehicles and in district heating.  A joint venture with the private E.ON as a partner. Established in 1999;
• 20 privately owned wind turbine generators in operation;
• Österäng: A pilot project with solar panels producing electricity;
• Energy advisor for households and small companies;
• Heating fuelled by pellets in 43 public buildings;
• Heating fuelled by straw in one public building;
• Energy saving using window efficiency;
• Bicycle lanes aiming to reduce car traffic;
• Cycle paths cleared of snow before, or at the same time as, roads;
• Cycle campaign among municipal employees;
• Introduction of biogas as vehicle fuel;
• Car-pool with biogas vehicles for employees at the city hall;
• Bicycle projects for municipal inhabitants;
• An Internet forum for car pooling;
• Mobility management activities, for example during the European mobility week.

Results

The energy savings achieved during 2007 are displayed in the following table:-
Heating and electricity
Energy for heating sold from the power plant                     284 000 MWh
Electricity produced in power plant                                         41 800 MWh
Number of dwellings connected to the heating system         11 200
Number of houses converted to bio-pellets                               1001
Number of schools converted to bio-pellets                                   43
Electricity from wind turbine generators                                  25 000 MWh
Electricity from two solar panels                                                       11 MWh
Biogas and transports
Biogas production from the landfill                                         10 300 MWh
Biogas production from the waste water treatment plant         9900 MWh
Biogas production from the biogas production plant              35 000 MWh
Biogas used for vehicle fuel                                                        12 900 MWh
Cycle path network                                                                            163 km

The investments have reduced the yearly CO2 emissions with 135 000 tonnes.

Critical Success Factors / Challenges

The state allowances have made the bigger ventures possible to realise.  Political agreement on the importance of these issues has also been crucial as well as a large number of partners.  The process of becoming fossil fuel free could definitely be transferred to another municipality, of course adjusted to suit the special circumstances and resources of that municipality.