Sweden

Sweden is the European leader in Blue Fuel™ R&D, and home to the Volvo-led BioDME Project, which started in September 2008. The consortium of corporations running the project, which is supported by the European Union and the Swedish Energy Agency, is planning to produce environmentally optimized Blue Fuel™ from biomass (black liquor from pulp mill waste) and to use it for transportation and industrial purposes.

In order to check technical standards, commercial possibilities and engine compatibilities, the bio-DME will be tested in a fleet of 14 Volvo trucks. The tests are the culmination of extensive Volvo R&D over a period of 12 plus years, and are projected to result in Volvo commencing production of Blue Fuel™ vehicles in 2012.

The relationship between Sweden and Blue Fuel™ extends beyond Volvo, however, as the city of Växjö, for example, is planning to become fossil-free by 2015, with bio-DME playing a significant role in its energy mix.