The municipality of Uppsala, Sweden has implemented several initiatives to increase the use of biogas as a transportation fuel and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Uppsala has a goal to reduce per capita emissions 50% by 2020 and to 0.5 tons per capita by 2050. The city produces biogas from food waste, sewage, and slaughterhouse waste and uses it to fuel over 70 public transportation buses. Uppsala also educates citizens on the importance of proper waste sorting to produce biogas. Plans through 2015 include expanding biogas production facilities and further phasing out liquefied natural gas to fuel more buses with biogas. Challenges going forward include ensuring long-term biomass availability and developing technologies to

1. Examples from use of Biogas as a Source of Transportation Fuel
Presentation from municipality of Uppsala – Sweden
May 20, 2014

2. 205 000 Inhabitants
UPPSALA - SWEDEN

3. CITY COUNCIL CLIMATE TARGET
To decrease emissions of greenhouse gases by at least
50 % per capita1990-2020.
By the latest 2050 to be at a max 0,5 tonne per capita.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1990 2000 2012 Target
2020
Target
2030
Target
2040
Target
2050
TonnesGreenhouseGases/Capita
Target Long-distance
travel
Target Non-energy
sources
Target Energy &
Transport
Long-distance travel
Non-energy sources
Transport
50 %

4. Personal and organizational leadership
Climate driven business development
Uppsala Climate Protocol – Together we will reach lower!

5. Biogas for
transports in
Uppsala

6. History biogas production Uppsala
Prestudy 1993/94 for
available biomass in
Uppsala
Decision for biogas
production, as a method for
handling waste, was taken
by the city council as part of
the waste management plan
in 1994
6

7. Production of raw gas
7
Food waste
Waste water
Total
NM3

8. Sales volume
8
Cars
Buses
Total
NM3

9. 9
Bio fertilizer
Biogas
Food waste from
households and
restaurants
85%15%
Slaughterhouse waste
Grocery waste
Fish waste
Food waste

10. Public transport buses
Buses 2014:
• Biogasbus (normal) : 35
• Biogasbus (extended-tall version): 28
Biogasbus (”soft line” smaller version): 8
Total # Biogasbuses: 71
• Hybridbuses el-diesel 3
• Diesel driven buses 89
10
Operated by:

11. Public transport buses
11
Operated by:
39
16
35
10
Fuels for public city buses 2013 (%)
Diesel
RME/tallolja
Biogas
Naturgas
Goal 2014=55% non‐fossil fuel

12. Critical success factors for the
devlopment of the bioenergy based
transport system
1. Long-term investment
2. Long-term agreement between several critical
parties
3. Holistic system approach
4. Consistent strategy regardless of political majority
5. Public actors first to transform towards biogased
based transports
6. Engagement amongst Uppsala citizens

13. Continous information towards citizens
Your waste is not rubbish
What you put in your garbage is of great importance. Right sorted,
your waste is a valuable resource that is used in new products or
energy. For example, your food scraps into biogas that powers
our city buses

14. Short term Plans (2014-15) for Biogas
1. Expansion of production plant (new pellet boiler)
2. Further expasion of biobased fuels, phasing out
LNG
3. Complete transfer of waste water resources to
biobased fuels
4. Regional long-term biogas strategy finalized

15. Challenges going forward towards a
biobased economy
1. Long-term and reliable biomass availability
2. Balance the extraction of biomass without compromising
the environment
3. Long-term profitability for investors
4. Technology development and ability to manage
transformational changes
5. Political decisions on national and EU-level
6. Most effective strategies for biomass usage (food, energy
& material)
7. Handling of the powerful forces that strive to maintain the
status quo

16. 16
Thank you!
Michael Åhlman, City of Uppsala, Executive Office
+46767603403, michael.ahlman@uppsala.se