Biomass to combat climate change
Växjö University / the Linnæus University
Växjö University leads in the field of new and sustainable energy technology based on biomass. From this January, it will be known as the Linnæus University.
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| Co-harvesting of solid biofuel (stumps) and timber to minimise costs |
Overall, the only non-fossil energy sources available on earth are gravitational forces in tidal energy, nuclear decay as present in natural minerals, and as part of geothermal heat and solar energy in its different forms. To be sustainable and practical, energy needs to be:
- Produced from renewable and inexhaustible sources;
- Be economically feasible to handle and store;
- Provide flexibility; and,
- Not produce too many harmful residues.
None of the non-fossil sources at hand will be sufficient to cover the growing needs of the world’s population, so a mixture of several sources will have to be found. Energy from biomass has an important role to play.
The demands of ecological and social sustainability mean that using biomass to create energy should not reduce agricultural capacity to produce food and fibre. Neither should the technology to produce the final energy service be so primitive as to endanger public health with hazardous or harmful emissions. For example, replacing open-air cooking in open fireplaces with basic indoor stoves, and thereby providing comfort heating, in rural areas of the African continent is believed to be one cause of the increasing frequency of lung diseases among women and children. The efficiency is higher so women and children spend less time collecting fuel, but life expecancy is shortened.
In Sweden, more than 20% of the energy consumed originates from biomass. It is second only to oil and exceeds output from nuclear and hydroelectric power stations. The expansion of biomass-based energy in Sweden has been continuous since the early 1970s. Assisted by political decisions, this has been economically beneficial compared to the trend of rising fossil-fuel prices. The technology has been continually improved, and Sweden today boasts some of the most modern and environmentally-friendly bioenergy technology solutions worldwide.
In the forefront
Annual CO2 emissions per capita in Sweden have decreased from eight to nine tonnes in the early 1980s to around six tonnes in the early 2000s (UN statistical database). The Växjö municipality leads with 3.1 tonnes of CO2/capita in 2007, and the rate is still decreasing (data from the municipality statistical office). The ultimate aim is to make Vaxjö a fossil-fuel-free community. It was the first city to take this decision, with all political parties focused in one direction and hence joining forces.
The three main reasons for the development in Växjö are:
- The municipality has enabled all political fractions to work together for the shared goal of a fossil-free community;
- Regional industry has entered into technical and commercial cooperation to develop technologies and markets for bioenergy solutions; and,
- Both industry and the community are working with the University to promote the fossil-free vision.
On average, one international study group visits Växjö every week to see how bioenergy systems work in practice and how to implement CO2-neutral energy production into modern society. You are welcome too.
The University has cutting-edge research in various fields within the wide scope of bioenergy, as well as short introductory courses up to PhD-level. A number of distance learning courses within different subjects can also be taken over the internet. These typically use English and are open to international students.
The campus-based three-year Bachelor courses and Masters’ programmes often require a basic knowledge of Swedish, while the postgraduate programmes are open to English-speaking students. Visiting researcher and post-doc positions are also possible.
Make Växjö University your partner
Part of the successful development in the Växjö region is because of the active part of the University in fundamental and applied research, in addition to its educational role.
Sweden is a leading country with respect to bioenergy and Växjö is a leading municipality in Sweden with the University playing a leading role in this development. With this combination, why would you choose a different partner?
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| The role of the University
The School of Technology conducts research in, among other fields, heavy vehicles for forest operations, fuel logistics and economy, wood fuel handling and pre-processing, biotechnical conversion, combustion, gasification, formation of emissions and other energy-related areas.
The Department of Bioenergy Technology coordinates the CHRISGAS project on the production of second generation automotive fuels from lignocellulosic biomass. Research here has demonstrated the feasibility of wood fuels for high-temperature industrial applications and allowed for fundamental research on properties of submicron particles formed in combustion.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is – together with Volvo Articulated Haulers – conducting research to improve vehicles and machinery used in forest operation.
The Department of Forest and Wood Technology has developed a novel technology to dry wood fuels using low-temperature surplus heat from industrial processes. |
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Växjö University /
Linnæus University
W: www.vxu.se/td/english
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