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The sun is the foundation of all life on earth. The potential regarding solar energy is relatively good in large parts of southern Sweden. Sweden has set an environmental goal that states that their electrical production will be generated from 100% renewable energy sources by 2040 at the latest. In order to achieve this goal, there will need to be extensive expansion of wind parks as well as solar parks. Sweden has not had the same development as Germany regarding the expansion of solar energy. The authors suggest that there is a need to investigate what factors influence the expansion of photovoltaics parks and what barriers are in the way of achieving large scale solar electricity production. The thesis will focus on solar expansion within the manufacturing sector as well as the agricultural sector within Halland county. The authors of this thesis aim to investigate the economic and administrative factors that influence investment opportunities alongside other factors that influence the expansion of solar energy. The study’s goal is to answer two research questions: “What factors are the most important to achieve large scale expansion of solar energy on manufacturing facilities and agricultural facilities?” “Which instruments and actions are required from society’s standpoint to enable large scale expansion of solar electricity production on manufacturing facilities as well as agricultural facilities in the county of Halland? “ The methodology used in this thesis is a qualitative approach where semi constructed interviews were implemented. There were six respondents that participated in the study. Whereas half were companies within the manufacturing industry or the agricultural sector, the rest were individuals within the field of solar energy. By conducting this study, several factors were identified that either promoted or hindered solar production within Halland county. The most prominent factors which drive development were economic and environmental factors, whilst laws and the investment cost was biggest factors that hindered development. In conclusion, the study suggests that there are changes in laws that need to be implemented to achieve large scale solar production within Halland county.

Halland's small and medium-sized enterprises, SME’s, have for several years had financial support to carry through energy audits. Region Halland and the Swedish Energy Agency provide the support. So far, the effects of these energy audits have been unknown. Hence the purpose for this study is to explore the effects that the energy audits have had on these enterprises hitherto. This study will highlight the benefits that the companies have experienced and analyse changes in energy use and climate benefits. Empirical data has been gathered through existing energy audits, a web-based survey and complemented with in-depth interviews. Calculations have thereafter been made to quantify the effects. The survey shows that energy measures affecting the indoor climate are generally the ones implemented. Hence improved indoor climate is a frequent added value. Lower energy use though, is not enough motivation for the companies to take action. It is indicated that energy measures are more likely to be implemented when the current energy systems need upgrading or replacement. To summarise, the energy audits have a positive impact on the companies, also in the long term. The study evinces that it is possible to increase the profitability in a company and yet lower their energy use and climate impact.

Broadleaved forests are highly valuable biotopes with important recreational value and contain rich occurrences of species of conservation concern. To monitor the development of nature values in a forest ecosystem during an interval of approximately ten years, follow-up inventories were carried out, following the first inventories which took place ten years ago in two nature reserves (Karlsvik and Bohult) dominated by broadleaved trees in the county of Halland, Sweden. Indicator species of lichen and moss were searched for and compared to the first inventories. The results show that both reserves contain more indicator species today than approximately ten years ago, though a change in the species composition was observed. In Bohult fewer indicator lichens were observed, although more observations were made of indicator mosses - making the total number of indicator species higher than in the previous inventory. Potential explanations to the differing results of the two reserves were discussed and assessed to be for varied reasons. The observed increased occurrences of indicator species may be due to increased continuity leading to bigger and older trees which make way for more epiphytes. The observed decreased occurrences of indicator species may be due to human activity such as newly carried out clearcutting in close proximity to the reserve (which could lead to edge effects or other environmental stresses), nitrogen deposition or exploitation. An observed threat for both reserves is the increasing growth of norway spruce (Picea abies) which may outcompete broadleaved species and the potential indicator species they may inhabit. Sammanfattning Ädellövskogar är mycket värdefulla naturtyper med höga rekreationsvärden och med rika förekomster av naturvårdsarter. För att utvärdera förändringen av skogliga naturvärden inom en tidsperiod av ca tio år utfördes uppföljningsinventeringar av två tidigare inventerade naturreservat som domineras av ädellövskog i Hallands län i Sverige. Signalarter av lavar och mossor eftersöktes och jämfördes med tidigare funna signalarter. Båda reservatens ursprungliga inventeringar utfördes för ca tio år sedan och resultaten visar att de båda reservaten nu har fler signalarter än tidigare, samtidigt som en förändring observerades i artsammansättningen då samtliga signalarter ej återfanns. I Bohult observerades färre signalartslavar, men fler signalartsmossor - vilket resulterade i ett större antal signalarter totalt för området. Potentiella förklaringar till de skilda förändringarna diskuterades och bedömdes bero på varierande orsaker. Det större antalet observerade signalarter skulle kunna förklaras av ökad tid för kontinuitet med fler grova och äldre träd som utgör lämpliga substrat för kolonisering av de eftersökta signalarterna. Det färre antalet observerade signalartslavar i Bohult skulle kunna bero på mänsklig påverkan i form av nyligen utförda kalavverkningar i angränsning till reservatet, vilket kan bidra till kanteffekter eller andra påfrestningar på miljön. Kvävenedfall, dikning av vattendrag eller annan exploatering föreslås också som möjlig orsak. Ett observerat hot för båda reservaten var igenväxningen av gran, vilken skulle kunna konkurrera med ädellövträden och de signalarter de kan husera.

Shoulder lesion is a big problem among pig farmers and is rarely noticed by the consumers. It is most common among lactating sows as they spend a lot of time laying down and is relatively hard to get rid of. There is a lot of factors that can affect the occurance of shoulder lesions for instance flesh, bedding and breeding. In this study we examine the occurance of shoulder lesion among Swedish farms in the county of Halland where diffrent farmers were asked to answer a couple of questions regarding their ways to hold pigs. 19 out of the 35 farmers asked said they had shoulder lesions in their herd. This is about 54% of the asked. When compared to what amount of bedding the farmer had it was shown that no shoulder lesions could been seen on pigs in deep litter with an amount of 10cm or more. For treatment against shoulder lesions most commmon among the swedish farmers was bluespray and wood tar, wich is an interesting observation since wood tar is known to cause allergic reactions to your skin. What the cause for shoulder lesion at the farms included in this study is not held, but that shoulder lesions is a problem is a fact. Bogsår är tryckskador som kan liknas vid liggsår som drabbar muskulaturen och underhuden som sedan utvecklas till ett öppet sår. Bogsår drabbar mestadels digivande suggor då de spenderar mycket tid liggandes på sidan vilket lämnar bogen till ett utsatt läge. Det finns olika stadier av bogsår. Eftersom Sverige inte har någon officiell skala att arbeta med används i denna rapport Lunds et al. (2003) skala som bland annat är grunden till bedömning på danska slakterier. Bogsår kan utvecklas från många olika faktorer, några exempel är hull, avel och underlag, det vill säga strömedel samt golvtyp. Det finns inga tydliga instruktioner på hur man behandlar bogsår, utan mycket arbete ligger bakom förebyggande åtgärder för att undvika det. I rapporten blev olika veterinärer rådfrågade och gav svar om vad de gav för tips och åtgärder när bogsår utvecklats. Danmark och Norge är även med som jämförelse då de har en annan djurskyddslag än vad vi i Sverige har. I Danmark har man satsat mycket pengar och resurser på att utreda hur bogsår kan förhindras, förebyggas och behandlas, vilket gör att de har utvecklat mer fakta än vad Sverige har. Sverige har däremot till skillnad mot Danmark en mer utvecklad djurskyddslag, trots att båda länderna följer EU-lagstiftningarna. Detta på grund av den tyngre reglerade nationella lagstiftningen Sverige faller under. Denna undersökning har utarbetats genom studiebesök hos en konventionell och en ekologisk grisproduktion samt att enkäter har skickats ut till grisproducenter i Hallands län. I enkäten ställdes frågor bland annat om hur mycket strömedel djurhållaren har i sin box och hur många procent bogsår som utvecklats hos grisarna. 19 av 35 hade bogsår i sin besättning där bogsårsfrekvensen varierade mellan 1 %-7,5 %. En jämförelse mellan % bogsår och mängd strömedel gjordes där ett svagt samband kunde ses att mer strö är lika med färre bogsår, med undantag från en strömängd på 7,5 cm vilket troligen berodde på att enbart en djurhållare låg inom den radien. Problem med utgödslingsystemet togs också med i resultatet där 26 djurhållare hade spalt varav 9 hade problem. 8 djurhållare hade djupströ varav 1 djurhållare upplevde problem med utgödslingen. Bogsår är något som är ett förekommande problem hos många besättningar men som fått lite uppmärksamhet och få studier har gjorts om bogsår i Sverige. Avel är en stor bidragande orsak till bogsår och mer fokus borde ligga åt forskning angående detta men att problemet i första hand uppmärksammats är ett steg åt rätt riktning.

The hydropower from Nissan River is of national interest and produces annually 230 GWh from the twelve power stations in the main flow. For modified waters a consideration between the power production and the biological values has to be made. This reports serves as a pre-study for Nissans Vattenråd. It tries to evaluate some of the biological values in the Nissan basin and map the power production in the area. And the size and value of lost power production from new fishways for the twelve stations in the main flow. The investment of new fishways is calculated using simplified templates with values from the business. The cost and loss of power due to new fishways are calculated for three cases: fish friendly grates for the power station inlet and bypass for migration. Fish friendly grate and vertical-slot fish passage for migration. The last case is called “scenario” and is a combination with the most suited solution for each station. This includes a restoration of the creek, with maintained power production, for the two stations closest to the ocean. The cost for fish friendly grade and bypass for al stations is about 207 mskr and for vertical-slot fish passage 125 mskr. They both result in a loss of power production of 12 GWh/year, corresponding to a value of 3,2 mskr (NordSpot sale price only) annually. Case “scenario” costs 177 mskr and loses additionally 4,2 GWh/year. In the overview, large parts of the Nissan runoff has difficulties reaching “god ecological status” which is the goal set for 2021. This goal can be extended to 2027. The main problem is chemical effect of acidification and mercury in the ground, as well as connectivity issue caused by dams and culverts. Salmon and sea trout could earlier migrate to Nissafors and is limited to the lower parts of Nissan to Oskarström. Many of the tributary waters have high biological values. The existing fishways have questioned functionality and delays fish migration today. Before decisions are made about increasing fishways the advice is to do further studies about the breeding grounds. It’s also possible to identify positive cash flows from an increase in fish migration.