Västra Götaland, a leading world class region within Biogas
Western Sweden shall become a leading region within Biogas, says Anneli Hulthén, chairman of the Gothenburg Municipality executive board. Now she wants to create a biogas cluster that positions Western Sweden in the forefront.
During the biogas kick-off prior to 2009 (arranged by Business Region Göteborg/ Biogas Väst) which gathered some hundred representatives within the field Anneli Hulthén spoke about her thoughts regarding the future development for biogas. The political will was strongas she set the goals for 2009. - We will create a world leading cluster for biogas in Western Sweden where all participants are involved. I believe in this. Our work to develop the industry has just begun.Anneli Hulthén was one of the committed politicians in creating the project Biogas Väst where Business Region Göteborg is the principal, with the overall aim of stimulating the market development of the gas-powered vehicle market. And so far it has proved to be a good investment.
When Biogas Väst started in 2001 there were nine gas fueling stations and approximately 800 vehicles in western Sweden. By 2008 Western Sweden had the best infrastructure in the
country with 37 gas fueling stations, approximately 7,000 vehicles and eight facilities producing biogas for automotive purposes.
Methane gas for vehicles (biogas and natural
gas) replaced around 18 million liters of petrol in 2007, which is expected to reduce greenhouse gases by the equivalent of 22,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Now we want a fast development throughout the whole chain from production, infrastructure to additional biogas driven vehicles replacing the fossile fueled. — Our starting point is that we are good at this in Western Sweden, and this is a great opportunity. And when we put together the perspectives, environmental work and sustainable growth I see that we are on the right path, she says.
It is now the task of Biogas Väst to create the biogas cluster, but there is more work to be done throughout 2009. Among other things there is work going one together with Västtrafik (Västtrafik is a public transport company in Western Sweden) in several West Swedish municipalities to work out where further busses driven on biogas can be placed. The 7-9 September Biogas Väst is also hosting the international European biomethane fuel conference.
Info on www.biogasmax.eu
During 2009 Sweden´s first fuelling station for LBG (Fueling stations for liquified bio methane/natural gas) will set of. Liquified biomethane is used as fuel for heavy duty traffic and the goal is to develop 24 LBG stations throughout Sweden in a near future.
- We have built a platform, and now we take a new step in developing and creating a new industry around biogas, says Göran Värmby, chairman of Biogas Väst.
