Over 99% of renewable heat in Växjö since 2020

Växjö has a long tradition of pioneering climate action. After it adopted, already in 1996, a policy for the eliminatorion of the use of fossil fuels by 2030, the city known as "The Greenest City in Europe" has managed to reduce its CO2 massively. Naturally, decarbonising heat in Växjö has been a priority in order to achieve a fossil-free future.

From energy security to climate mission

Växjö started its transition to renewable energy in 1980. This was due to high costs of oil and because the city wanted to secure cheaper and more local energy sources, and to be less dependent on other countries. The strategy was to take residuals from the forest industry. Växjö saw great value in this transition and later on, when more cities and countries started to talk about climate change and green energy, this city had already come far. In 1996, Växjö decided to become a Fossil Fuel Free city. The achievement in the energy transition was one of the reasons why they dared to take this decision so early. 

Local renewable energy sources boosting local economy

Since heat stands for a big part of the overall energy use in Växjö, it was important for us the city reduce the use of fossil fuels there. Also, since Växjö municipality is the owner of the local energy company, they also have the possibility to actually have an influence in the phase-out of fossil fuels. The combined heat and power plant in central Växjö has every year increased its share of renewable energy from biomass, until year 2019 when 100% of the energy was renewable. The sources are residuals from forestry within 70 km from Växjö, so it is a really local energy source, also contributing to economic sustainability in the region when local forest owners can sell residuals. But also, since fossil fuels are more expensive, the citizens have lower energy costs due to the energy transition.

Renewable heat solutions everywhere

District heating systems using renewable energy are also found in four other settlements in the municipality. The strategy has been to not only connect public buildings to the district heating system, but also industries, commercial buildings, and single family houses. District heating now supports a vast majority of the buildings where district heating is available. In the remaining buildings, it is common to use heat pumps.

The transition of the energy mix in the district heating system, in combination with the connection of more and more buildings to the system, has contributed largely to the reduced CO2 emissions in Växjö. Between 1993 and 2023, the CO2 emissions were reduced by over 60%. A majority of this is due to the energy transition.

Main challenges to detoxify heat:

1. To determine what role and possibility the municipality has in finding renewable energy solutions for buildings outside the district heating system.

Next steps:

1. The city is trying to find new innovative ways to use renewable district heat all over the year. The reason for this is that the more district heat they use, the more green electricity we can produce. Different solutions include heating of squares, pavements and sport fields with the help of returning low temperature heat in the system during wintertime, as well as absorption cooling systems instead of electric cooling in summertime.
2. According to Växjö's energy plan, to always look for the most practical renewable energy solution in each place when exploiting new land for buildings.

Where they are in the heat strategy :

Växjö's Heat Detox:

Key Heat Figures:

• Emissions related to heating: 1,080 tons 2023 
  • Of this: 136 tons comes from the district heating system in one of the villages, 870 tons comes from oil boilers mostly used in agricultural and industrial buildings, 74 tons comes from electric heating.
• Km of DHC currently: roughly 500 km
• Percentage of renewables in heating system: 99.99% of the energy used for local heat production is renewable
  • 99% of the total heat consumption in the whole municipality is renewable

Covenant Figures:

• Signatory to the Covenant of Mayors since 2008
• Overall CO2 emission reduction target: Fossil fuel free Växjö (-100 % fossil CO2 by 2030) 
  • Achieved -60% CO2 between 1993 and 2023.

City Awards

• European Green Leaf Award 2018