100% RENEWABLE - Local Partnership against Climate Change

Malmö and E.ON Sweden - www.ekostaden.com, www.eon.se

Malmö is a city in transition in one of Europe's most dynamic regions. Sweden's third city is just a stone's throw from the Danish capital, Copenhagen, and closer to Rome than the northern border of Sweden. EU membership, the opening of the rail and road bridge to Copenhagen and the development of the city from a provincial industrial town to a thriving multi-cultural melting-pot and one of Sweden's main economic development areas have all contributed to a pioneering spirit that has enabled, rather than hindered, a positive approach to tackling environmental issues in the city.

In Malmö, we recognise the challenges presented by increasing changes to our climate. We are focussing work in both the public and private sectors to minimise our contribution to climate change. We are developing new opportunities for economic growth and high quality of life whilst minimising environmental impact.

In Malmö we continue to work hard with transport and the built environment to combat climate change and we are now developing innovative lifestyle projects with residents in the city and programmes with the region's food sector to minimise food miles and promote more climate friendly farming. The aim of Malmö's climate change programme is to decrease CO2 emissions by 25% from 1990 levels by 2010.

The approach in Malmö to tackling climate change is one built on partnership. The City of Malmö is working in a number of different areas with climate change related issues, in schools, in strategic planning and in the day to day operation of buildings and transport systems.

In all of these areas the city works closely with other partners, often from the private sector. Property developers and managers, haulage and taxi companies are all important partners, and of course energy suppliers have a key role to play. One of the key players in the region is energy provider, E.ON Sverige (formerly called Sydkraft) who is taking the lead in the development of renewable or clean energy systems for both the housing and transport sectors.

Promoting sustainable transport
E.ON Sverige and the City of Malmö are both key partners in Miløre Centre, a regional organisation working to promote sustainable transport and clean fuels by providing information, advice and inspiration to public, private and voluntary sector organisations in southern Sweden. Eco-driving for lorry drivers, car pools for communities or helping companies purchase clean fuel vehicles that suit their needs are just a few examples of the kinds of activities carried out by Miløre Centre.

Sales of clean fuel vehicles are increasing significantly in the region, driven mainly by larger businesses and local authorities, but as the infrastructure for gas and ethanol develops, so does the interest from individuals interested in doing their bit to combat climate change, whilst cutting a few percent off their fuel bills.

Busses powered by natural gas
Busses in Malmö are now powered by natural gas and E.ON Sverige is developing the gas infrastructure in the region to make natural gas and biogas a viable alternative as a vehicle fuel in Sweden, cutting emissions of CO and other pollutants significantly. Air quality in the city has improved as a result and work in the near future to mix 25% biogas in the natural gas system will further decrease CO2 emissions.

A concept for future construction
It is in the construction and housing sector that the most dramatic innovations have taken place. The City of Malmö and E.ON Sverige have worked closely with developers in the Western Harbour redevelopment to create a model for future construction in Malmö and in other cities around the world.

To the casual visitor, the seafront location looking out towards Copenhagen, is an example of an exciting modern urban environment where summer swimmers, and residents ranging from students to wealthy pensioners, rub shoulders in the thriving waterfront bistros. But the neighbourhood is more than an outstanding example of good urban planning and liveability, it is also the first large scale mainstream carbon neutral urban development in the world.

100% renewable energy
A partnership of developers, E.ON Sverige and the City of Malmö created a joint Quality Programme for the construction of the new housing area in what was formerly the industrial heartland of Malmö. The Quality Programme not only set the aesthetic and architectural standards, but also included commitments from different partners to provide services in the area, and to meet specific targets with regard to issues such as green space, biodiversity, recycling and low energy use in the buildings. Amongst the service commitments was that of E.ON Sverige to supply the area with 100% local renewable energy.

The result is a neighbourhood in which the energy demand and supply balance over the course of the year. A 2MW wind turbine provides virtually all electricity, supplemented by some photovoltaics mounted as sun shields on one building. This covers domestic electricity supply and the power to run the heat pumps which supply hot water and district heating, extracting heat from sea water in the canal, from the solar collectors installed on the rooftops and from the innovative aquifer storage system.

By using unique hot and cold wells in the aquifer and utilising the synergy with the city's electricity network and district heating systems as "energy stores", the Western Harbour is able to export energy when production is high and demand is low, and import energy when more is needed. Over the course of a year, however, local renewable supply matches local demand.

Synergies in new projects
The Quality Programme concept for sustainable construction has been adopted now for other projects in the city and E.ON Sverige and the City of Malmö are working with developers in a major commercial development to use a similar energy concept, once more creating synergies between existing energy systems and innovative applications of existing technologies.

A major programme to integrate solar heat and electricity production into public buildings has just been launched in the Augustenborg Eco- Neighbourhood, a 1950s housing area in which an environmental and community development programme has turned the downward spiral. The solar programme is now being rolled out across the city.

Whilst clean energy sources are vital to success, so is increased energy efficiency. In the Augustenborg neighbourhood, both technical and social projects have been carried out to test new methods of decreasing energy use in the existing housing stock. In other new construction projects around the city there are ambitious energy targets set. The first Nordic Swan Eco-labelled houses are under construction and houses without heating systems are being planned for commercial construction in the near future.

Sustainability and quality of life
The Western Harbour project has not only influenced development in Malmö but businesses and officials from cities around the world have visited Malmö to gain inspiration for their own work with sustainable urban development and cities such as Barcelona and Seattle are starting to put their own concepts into practice.

But looking out across the sea with a cup of fair-trade coffee after a meal of local organic produce in one of the Western Harbour restaurants, the casual visitor can remain blissfully ignorant of the technology around them, but be reassured that sustainability and quality of life can go hand in hand.

About the partners
Malmö, Sweden's third largest city, is a multi-cultural, forward looking city exhibiting strong growth, belief in the future and ambitious environmental targets. The city's goal is to reduce the average emissions level of carbon dioxide during the period between 2008 and 2012 to at least 25% lower than the level of 1990. In the long term, all energy production and use shall be based on non-fossil fuel sources. www.malmo.se

E.ON Sverige (Sweden) produces and delivers energy and energyrelated services to approximately 1.1 million customers. E.ON Sverige has annual sales of approximately SEK 25 billion, with 5,000 employees. The company's goal is to generate profitability based on its customer benefits and social responsibility. The route chosen is improved service, more efficient energy utilization, an increasing proportion of renewable energy types and a holistic approach to the global threat of climate change. E.ON Sverige is a company in the E.ON Group, which is listed on the Frankfurt and New York stock exchanges.

For more information: per-arne.nilsson@malmo.se, eva.nord@eon.se