Adding gas from biomass to the gas grid - SGC

Swedish energy taxesThe Swedish energy taxes are divided into three parts, an energy tax, a CO 2 -tax and a sulphur tax.The energy tax is different for different types of fuels. The CO 2 -tax is based on the carbon content inthe fuel and the sulphur tax is also based on the sulphur content in the fuel. Biofuels and biogas isrelieved from all forms of tax (except VAT).7.3.8 SwitzerlandTaxUnit Energy Carbon Sulphur TotalProductdioxideBiogas/Biofuel 0 0 0 0Diesel 1 €/m 3 214 121 0 335Petrol €/m 3 415 99 0 514Fuel oil No1 €/m 3 85 121 6 212Natural gas €/1000m 3 28 91 0 119Table 60: Energy taxes in Sweden. The use of electricity is taxed in Sweden. The tax variesbetween zero for the industry and 2 €ct/kWh for domestic consumption.Renewable energy is one of the ‘hottest’ domestic political issues in Switzerland. Energyconsumption as well as energy production has been identified as the main source of air pollution.This is significant as air pollution happens to be the ‘problem child’ of the otherwise rathersuccessful Swiss pollution control program. A particularly sensitive aspect is the replacement of thecountry's five nuclear power plants which needs to be completed within the next 10-15 years.Nuclear power covers 39% of the Swiss consumption of electric energy and there is no viablealternative in sight. Energy prices are under growing pressure due to the market liberalization.Although moving more slowly than in most other European countries, the liberalization process isadvancing at a steady pace. The resulting lower energy prices are hardly encouraging for makingthe switch to high cost renewable energy from ‘clean sources’. The Swiss approach is different frommost of its European neighbors as the law does not include a quota for renewable energy (such asSpain e.g.) or a legal requirement to accept renewable energy such as in Germany(Ruecknahmegesetz). The goal is to be reached by a mix of financial incentives and subsidies.Partly inspired by the German example, the Swiss Parliament is haggling over the final touches ofwhat is described as an ecological tax law reform. The goal is to tax ‘wasteful use of energy’ as wellas energy produced by means which are classified as ‘environmentally unfriendly’. The resultingfinancial pressure is expected to further investments in relevant equipment and technologies. Thenew revenues which will be generated will be recycled back into the economy to promote the use ofrenewable energy, energy efficiency and relevant R&D. Some 350 - 470 M€ will become availableannually as a result. Some of these funds will flow into the follow-up program of ‘Energy 2000’.‘Energy 2000’, which is about to be concluded, was launched by the Government in 1991 to furtherrenewable energies, energy efficiency and R&D. According to a June 1999 report, some 62% of thegoals in the heating sector and about 88% of the targets in the field of electrical power had beenpage: 114