Energy in Sweden

|width=15em|     

|valign=top|

|width=15em|     

|valign=top|

|width=15em|     

|valign=top|

CO₂ emissions:
33.58 million tons

|}

Sweden's energy plan is to have 65% of energy produced by renewables by 2030 and 100% by 2040.{{cite web |title=Summary of the Commission assessment of the draft National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030 |url=https://energy.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2019-06/necp_factsheet_se_final_0.pdf |access-date=17 August 2023}}

Renewable energy includes wind, solar, biomass and geothermal energy sources.

Within the context of the European Union's 2009 Renewables Directive, Sweden was working towards reaching a 49% share of renewable energy in gross final consumption of energy - electricity, heating/cooling, and transportation - by 2020.{{cite news|url= http://www.lse.ac.uk/GranthamInstitute/legislation/countries/sweden/|title= Sweden|publisher= Grantham Institute - Climate Change and Environment|date= 30 October 2015 |access-date= 2 April 2016 }}

Eurostat reported that Sweden had already exceeded the Directive's 2020 target in 2014{{cite news|url= http://www.eiu.com/industry/article/1054043489/eu-renewables-usage-shows-steady-increase/2016-03-23|title= EU renewables usage shows steady increase|publisher= Economist Intelligence Unit|date= 16 March 2016 |access-date= 2 April 2016 }} reaching 52.6% of total final energy consumption provided by renewables, up from 38.7% in 2004.

This makes Sweden the leading country within the EU-28 group in terms of renewable energy use by share, followed by Finland and Latvia at 38.7%, Austria at 33.1% and Denmark on 29.2%.{{Cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/7155577/8-10022016-AP-EN.pdf/38bf822f-8adf-4e54-b9c6-87b342ead339|title=Eurostat, news release, February 2016.|website=Ec.europa.eu|access-date=10 January 2018}}

The two other signatories of the directive, Iceland and Norway, remain ahead of Sweden at 77.1% and 69.2% respectively.

The 2014 52.6% overall share of final energy consumption in Sweden breaks down as renewable energy providing the following shares to each sector: 68.1% of the heating and cooling sector, 63.3% of the electricity sector and 19.2% of the transport sector.{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/renewable-energy/progress-reports|title=European Commission, Energy, 2015 Progress Reports, Sweden.|website=Ec.europa.eu|access-date=10 January 2018}}

The share of renewable electricity use is high in Sweden. Hydro, wind, and solar power together accounted for 49.8% of the electricity produced in the country in 2014. When measured against national electricity consumption, the share rises to 55.5%.{{cite web|url=http://www.scb.se/en_/Finding-statistics/Statistics-by-subject-area/Energy/Energy-supply-and-use/Annual-energy-statistics-electricity-gas-and-district-heating/Aktuell-Pong/6321/24270/|title=Electricity supply and use 2001–2014 (GWh)|date=30 November 2015|publisher=Statistics Sweden|author=Swedish Energy Agency|access-date=2 April 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316074708/http://www.scb.se/en_/Finding-statistics/Statistics-by-subject-area/Energy/Energy-supply-and-use/Annual-energy-statistics-electricity-gas-and-district-heating/Aktuell-Pong/6321/24270/|archive-date=16 March 2016}} Since 2003, Sweden has supported renewable energy in the electricity sector with a "green electricity certificate" obligation for retail power suppliers.{{cite news|url=https://sweden.se/society/energy-use-in-sweden/|title=Energy use in Sweden|date=22 January 2016|publisher=Swedish Institute|access-date=2 April 2016|archive-date=24 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924214632/https://sweden.se/society/energy-use-in-sweden/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.iea.org/policiesandmeasures/pams/sweden/name-21727-en.php|title=Sweden - The Electricity Certificate System|date=11 March 2014|publisher=International Energy Agency|access-date=2 April 2016}} {{As of|2015}} the plan of the certificate system was to support 25 TWh of new renewable electricity generation by 2020.{{cite news|url=http://www.energimyndigheten.se/en/sustainability/the-electricity-certificate-system/|title=The Electricity Certificate System|date=20 October 2015|publisher=Swedish Energy Agency|access-date=2 April 2016}}

In June 2016, the Swedish centre-left minority coalition government reached a cross-party energy deal with three opposition parties (the Moderate Party, Centre Party (Sweden), and Christian Democrats (Sweden)), with the agreement targeting 100% renewable electricity production by 2040.{{cite news|url= http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=6451006|title= Support for renewables, concessions for nuclear in energy deal|publisher= SR International – Radio Sweden|date= 10 June 2016 |access-date= 23 January 2017 }}{{cite news|url= http://www.rechargenews.com/wind/1183427/analysis-mixed-picture-for-wind-as-sweden-plots-all-renewable-route|title= ANALYSIS: Mixed picture for wind as Sweden plots all-renewable route |author = William Steel|publisher= RECHARGE|date= 16 June 2016 |access-date= 23 January 2017 }}

In 2013 renewable energy investment was more than US$1 billion in Sweden.{{cite web|url=http://www.ren21.net/Portals/0/documents/Resources/GSR/2014/GSR2014_full%20report_low%20res.pdf|title=Renewables 2014 Global Status Report, page 70|website=Ren21.net}}

{{Main|Wind power in Sweden}}

File:Electricity production in Sweden.svg

Wind power accounted for 10% of the electricity generated in Sweden in 2015, up from 5% in 2012 and 2.4% in 2010.[http://www.energimyndigheten.se/en/Press/News/Significant-increase-in-energy-from-wind-power/ Significant increase in energy from wind power] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419193954/http://www.energimyndigheten.se/en/Press/News/Significant-increase-in-energy-from-wind-power/ |date=19 April 2012 }} The Swedish Energy AgencyEnergiläget i siffror 2014 18: Sveriges elproduktion per kraftslag och total elanvändning 1970–2012{{cite web|url=http://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/energy/energy-supply-and-use/annual-energy-statistics-electricity-gas-and-district-heating/pong/tables-and-graphs/electricity-supply-and-use-20012015-gwh/|title=Electricity supply and use 2001–2015 (GWh)|publisher=Statistics Sweden|date=30 November 2016|access-date=6 February 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/industry/2016/08/sweden-europes-quickest-growing-wind-power|title=Sweden is Europe's quickest growing on wind power|author=Atle Staalesen|publisher=The Independent Barents Observer|date=23 August 2016|access-date=6 February 2017}}

Sweden has wind power potential of 510 TWh/a at land and 46 TWh/a at sea.{{cite web|url=http://www.greenpeace.org/sweden/Global/sweden/klimat/dokument/2011/energy-revolution-sweden.pdf|title=the advanced energy [r]evolution : A SUSTAINABLE ENERGY OUTLOOK FOR SWEDEN|website=Greenpeace.org|access-date=10 January 2018|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305143000/http://www.greenpeace.org/sweden/Global/sweden/klimat/dokument/2011/energy-revolution-sweden.pdf|url-status=dead}} Consumption was 140 TWh of power in 2010.

In 2013 Sweden was second top country for wind power capacity per inhabitant in the world: 488 W per person, only surpassed by Denmark (863 W per person).{{cite web|url=http://www.ren21.net/Portals/0/documents/Resources/GSR/2014/GSR2014_full%20report_low%20res.pdf|title=Renewables 2014 Global Status Report, page 56|website=Ren21.net|access-date=10 January 2018}} In correlation one must note that Swedish use of energy per inhabitant is much higher than average in Europe.

Solar PV capacity in Sweden reached 3.9 GW in 2023, up from 0.14 GW in 2016.{{cite news |url= https://pxexternal.energimyndigheten.se/pxweb/en/N%c3%a4tanslutna%20solcellsanl%c3%a4ggningar/-/EN0123_1.px/table/tableViewLayout2/ |title= Grid-connected solar installations, number and installed power, from 2016 -|page= |publisher=Swedish Energy Agency|date= 2024-04-03 |access-date= 2024-04-06}}{{cite news |url= https://www.energimyndigheten.se/nyhetsarkiv/2024/over-250-000-installerade-solcellsanlaggningar-i-sverige/ |title= Över 250 000 installerade solcellsanläggningar i Sverige (Over 250,000 installed solar cell systems in Sweden)|page= |publisher=Swedish Energy Agency|date= 2024-04-03 |access-date= 2024-04-06}}

Solar power accounted for roughly 1% of the nation's total electricity consumption in 2022.{{cite news |url= https://iea-pvps.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/National-Survey-Report-of-PV-Power-Applications-in-Sweden%E2%80%93-2022.pdf |title= National Survey Report of PV Power Applications in Sweden 2022|page= 16/66|publisher= International Energy Agency - Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme|date= November 2023 |access-date= 2023-11-11 }}

As of 2023, Sweden's largest solar park is an 18MW facility in Skurup built by solar developer Alight AB, which produces energy for Martin & Servera.{{cite web|url=https://svensksolenergi.se/om-solenergi/anlaggningar/solcellsparker/|title= Om solenergi|publisher= Svensk Solenergi|date= 2022 |access-date= 2023-01-13 }}

Sweden has a wave power station outside Lysekil run by Uppsala University. The wave energy research group at Uppsala University study and develop all different aspects of wave energy, ranging from power systems and generators, to hydrodynamical modelling, and environmental impact of wave energy parks.{{Cite web|url=http://teknik.uu.se/electricity/research-areas/wave-power/|title=Wave Power - Department of Engineering Science|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-date=24 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324075630/http://www.teknik.uu.se/electricity/research-areas/wave-power/|url-status=dead}}

{{main|Hydroelectric power in Sweden}}

{{see also|List of hydroelectric power stations in Sweden}}

Hydroelectric power accounts for more than half of Sweden's electricity production. More than 1900 hydroelectric power stations operate across the country. Forty-five produce 100 MW and over, 17 produce 200 MW and over, and 5 produce 400 MW and over. The largest station, the Harsprånget hydroelectric power station, is located on the upper Lule River and has a maximum production capacity of 977 MW. The Lule River is also the most productive river, with almost 18% of the Swedish installed capacity. Almost all of the medium to large plants are located in northern Sweden.

Coal ceased to be used for electricity production in 2020.{{cite web |title=Sweden adds name to growing list of coal-free states in Europe |url=https://www.eceee.org/all-news/news/sweden-adds-name-to-growing-list-of-coal-free-states-in-europe/#:~:text=(EurActiv%2C%2021%20Apr%202020),ahead%20of%20schedule%20last%20week. |date=21 April 2020}}

Most of Sweden, including Stockholm have no piped natural gas.{{cite web |title=Sweden without gas |url=https://www.airclim.org/acidnews/sweden-without-gas |date=2 June 2015}}

{{Further|Biofuel in Sweden}}

Sweden aims for a fossil fuel free vehicle fleet by 2030.{{cite web|url=http://www.ren21.net/Portals/0/documents/Resources/GSR/2014/GSR2014_full%20report_low%20res.pdf|title=Renewables 2014 Global Status Report, page 29|website=Ren21.net|access-date=10 January 2018}}

Sweden published the sustainability criteria for biofuels (2011) which consider the areas with high biological values to be protected in respect to fuels production. The feedstock origin used for production of bioliquids in Sweden during 2011 was Sweden 49% The Netherlands 17% United States 17% Finland 6% Belgium 3% and other 8% (Brazil, Malaysia and Russia). Palm oil is often pointed out as a dirty feed-stock for biofuels. None of the Swedish companies used palm oil in 2011. The largest share of feedstock for bioliquids comes from the forest industry in the form of tall oil pitch, tall oil and methanol.{{cite web|url=http://webbshop.cm.se/System/TemplateView.aspx?p=Energimyndigheten&view=default&id=d65a3a4ad33e41149788fbe65756471b|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130418105823/http://webbshop.cm.se/System/TemplateView.aspx?p=Energimyndigheten&view=default&id=d65a3a4ad33e41149788fbe65756471b|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 April 2013|title=Sustainable bioliquids 2011|website=Webbshop.cm.se|access-date=10 January 2018}}

In 2013 the bus fleets in more than a dozen cities relied entirely on biomethane, local plants produced more than 60% of

the total biomethane used in Swedish natural gas vehicles, and more filling stations were opened in 2012 and 2013. Göteborg Energi (Gothenburg Energy) has a 20 MW facility that gasifies forest residues and then converts the synthesis gases—hydrogen and carbon monoxide—into biomethane.{{cite web|url=http://www.ren21.net/Portals/0/documents/Resources/GSR/2014/GSR2014_full%20report_low%20res.pdf|title=Renewables 2014 Global Status Report, page 35+37|website=Ren21.net|access-date=10 January 2018}}

Nuclear is dominating in this sector. The other operational plant is, in almost all cases, fueled with renewable fuels. Oil plants are few, and are either decommissioned or used as a reserve.

{{main|Nuclear power in Sweden}}

More than 35% of the Swedish electricity is produced by 6 nuclear reactors, spread out on three power stations:

• Ringhals Nuclear Power Plant - 2 Pressurized Water Reactor, ~3,1 GW
• Oskarshamn Nuclear Power Plant - 1 BWR (The largest BWR reactor in the world by energy output), ~1,5 GW
• Forsmark Nuclear Power Plant - 3 BWRs, ~3,2 GW

Before 2005, there were 12 reactors, but two BWR reactors (~1,2 GW) at the Barsebäck nuclear power plant were decommissioned in 1999 and 2005, two BWR reactors at the Oskarshamn Nuclear Power Plant were decommissioned in 2015 and 2017 (~1,1 GW), one PWR reactor was decommissioned at the Ringhals Nuclear Power Plant in 2019. (~1,8 GW). On 31 December 2020 the R1 reactor was permanently shut down.{{cite news|url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Sweden-s-Ringhals-1-closes-for-last-time |title=Sweden's Ringhals 1 closes for last time |work=World Nuclear News|date=31 December 2020|accessdate=9 January 2021}}

Sweden is preparing to dismantle and demolish six large nuclear power reactors on three sites in coming years.{{Cite web|last=Gillin|first=Kristina|date=27 Feb 2020|title=Nuclear decommissioning in Sweden: A priority for the 2020s|url=https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/nuclear-decommissioning-sweden/|access-date=2020-06-03|website=NS Energy|language=en-US}} It is also working on plans to provide long-term storage of high-level waste.{{Cite web|date=29 April 2020|title=NGOs demand place for nuclear in EU Taxonomy : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News|url=https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/NGOs-demand-place-for-nuclear-in-EU-Taxonomy|access-date=2020-06-03|website=World Nuclear News}}

The total cost of spent fuel storage and decommissioning is estimated at SEK147 billion (around €14 billion). About SEK53 billion (around €5 billion) has been spent to date. This excludes the costs of near-surface disposal facilities for very low-level waste at Ringhals, Oskarshamn, and Forsmark.

The majority of low- and intermediate-level waste will be disposed of in a shallow geological repository for short-lived waste at Forsmark. The country is also exploring the use of transmutation to reduce waste radiotoxicity, with little success.{{Cite web|date=2019-08-01|title=What should we do with radioactive nuclear waste?|url=http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/01/what-should-we-do-with-radioactive-nuclear-waste|access-date=2020-06-03|website=the Guardian|language=en}}

{{Main|Climate change in Sweden}}

File:CO2_emissions_Sweden.svg

According to Energy Information Administration the CO₂ emissions from energy consumption of Sweden were in 2009 54.77 Mt, slightly below Finland 54.86 Mt, despite the difference in population.[https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2011/jan/31/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-country-data-co2 World carbon dioxide emissions data by country: China speeds ahead of the rest], The Guardian, 31 January 2011 The emissions per capita were in Sweden 5.58 and in Finland 9.93 tonnes per capita in 2009.[https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2011/jan/31/world-carbon-dioxide-emissions-country-data-co2 world carbon dioxide emissions country data co2], The Guardian, 31 January 2011

In January 1991, Sweden enacted a carbon tax of SEK 250 per 1000 kg ($40 at the time, or EUR 27 at current rates) on the use of oil, coal, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, petrol, and aviation fuel used in domestic travel. Industrial users paid half the rate (between 1993 and 1997, 25%), and preferred industries such as commercial horticulture, mining, manufacturing, and pulp and paper were exempted entirely. As a result, the tax only covers around 40% of Sweden's carbon emissions.{{Cite web |last1=Jonsson |first1=Samuel |last2=Ydstedt |first2=Anders |last3=Asen |first3=Elke |date=2020-09-23 |title=Looking Back on 30 Years of Carbon Taxes in Sweden |url=https://taxfoundation.org/sweden-carbon-tax-revenue-greenhouse-gas-emissions/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501064644/https://taxfoundation.org/sweden-carbon-tax-revenue-greenhouse-gas-emissions/ |archive-date=1 May 2021 |access-date=2021-05-01 |website=Tax Foundation |language=en}} The rate was raised to SEK 365 ($60) in 1997{{cite web |date=17 September 2007 |title=Carbon taxes raised to tackle climate change |url=http://www.thelocal.se/8522/20070917/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021045243/http://www.thelocal.se/8522/20070917/ |archive-date=21 October 2007 |access-date=5 May 2011 |publisher=The Local (Sweden's news in English)}} and SEK 930 in 2007.{{cite web |author=IEA |year=2008 |title=Energy Policies of IEA Countries – Sweden- 2008 Review |url=http://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/Sweden2008.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714021355/http://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/Sweden2008.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2014 |access-date=25 December 2014 |publisher=International Energy Agency website |page=150}}

According to a 2019 study, the tax was instrumental in substantially reducing Sweden's carbon dioxide emissions.{{Cite journal |last=Andersson |first=Julius J. |date=1 November 2019 |title=Carbon Taxes and {{CO2}} Emissions: Sweden as a Case Study |journal=American Economic Journal: Economic Policy |language=en |volume=11 |issue=4 |pages=1–30 |doi=10.1257/pol.20170144 |issn=1945-7731 |doi-access=free}} The tax is also credited by Swedish Society for Nature Conservation climate change expert Emma Lindberg and University of Lund Professor Thomas Johansson with spurring a significant move from hydrocarbon fuels to biomass. Lindberg said, "It was the one major reason that steered society towards climate-friendly solutions. It made polluting more expensive and focused people on finding energy-efficient solutions."{{cite news |last=Fouché |first=Gwladys |date=29 April 2008 |title=Sweden's carbon-tax solution to climate change puts it top of the green list |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/apr/29/climatechange.carbonemissions |url-status=live |access-date=11 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020235200/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/apr/29/climatechange.carbonemissions |archive-date=20 October 2020}}{{cite web |last=Carlgren |first=Fredrik |date=7 October 2015 |title=GDP – Gross Domestic Product – Ekonomifakta |url=http://www.ekonomifakta.se/en/Facts-and-figures/Economy/Economic-growth/GDP/?from51=1990&to51=2006&columns51=,1,2,3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012181827/http://www.ekonomifakta.se/en/Facts-and-figures/Economy/Economic-growth/GDP/?from51=1990&to51=2006&columns51=,1,2,3 |archive-date=12 October 2016 |access-date=24 August 2016 |publisher=Ekonomifakta.se}}

{{Commons category}}

• Electricity sector in Sweden
• Wind power in Sweden
• Biofuel in Sweden
• Sweden National Renewable Energy Action Plan
• Nordic energy market
• Renewable energy in Norway
• Renewable energy in Finland
• Renewable energy in Denmark
• Renewable energy by country
• SYSAV waste-to-energy plant

{{Reflist}}

• [https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/renewable-energy/national-action-plans European Commission National Renewable Energy Action Plans]
• [https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/renewable-energy/progress-reports European Commission renewable energy Progress Reports]
• [https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency-directive/national-energy-efficiency-action-plans European Commission National Energy Efficiency Energy Action Plans]

{{Energy in Sweden}}

{{Sweden topics}}

{{Europe topic|Energy in}}

{{Europe topic|Energy policy of}}{{Renewable energy by country}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sweden}}