National Economy
The Scandinavian country of the Kingdom of Sweden is bordered by Norway, Finland, Bothnia Sea, Baltic Sea, Kattegat Bay, and Skagerrak Strait. The population of Sweden is approximately 10.28 million people[1].
In 2022, Sweden’s economy was ranked 22nd in the world in gross domestic product (GDP)[2]. The country’s economy is dependent on the export[3] of cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicaments, sawn wood, motor vehicle parts, iron powder, and polymer ion-exchangers.
Environmental Policies
In 1980, the government of Sweden approved a policy to phase out all nuclear power[4]. In 2010, the Swedish Parliament voted to repeal this policy.
In 2009, Sweden as a member of the European Union (EU) committed to the “Renewable Energy Directive,” which requires each country to use renewable energy for 20% of its total energy needs by 2020 and 27% by 2030.
In 2016, Sweden as a member of the EU signed the “Paris Climate Agreement”[5]. The EU committed to a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emission by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
Power Generation Capabilities
In 2020, 100% of the people in Sweden had access to electricity[6]. In 2021, the state-owned utility, Svenska Kraftnät used renewable energy (48.5%), oil (24.7%), nuclear energy (22.0%), coal (2.6%) and natural gas (2.2%) to generate electricity in the country[7]. Hydropower and wind are the dominant types of renewable energy used to generate electricity in Sweden.
Recent renewable energy developments in Sweden includes the following:
- 5,500 MW Offshore Wind Project – Swedish renewable energy company, OX2 is continuing work on the Aurora offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea. Construction is forecast to begin in 2028. The offshore wind project is forecast to be commissioned in 2030.
- 3,900 MW Offshore Wind Project – In April 2023, German company Skyborn Renewables announced plans to build the Eystrasalt offshore wind project in the Bothnian Sea. Once commissioned the project will generate 10% of Sweden’s annual electricity requirements.
- 146 MW Wind Project – In December 2021, Swedish company, Holmen commissioned the Blåbergsliden wind project in the northern region of the nation.
- 128 MW Solar Project – In November 2022, Danish renewable energy company, European Energy commenced work on a solar project southern region of the nation. The project is forecast to be commissioned in 2024.
- 60 MW Wind Project – German renewable energy company, WKN GmbH is continuing work on the Hultema wind project in the southern region of the nation. The project is forecast to be commissioned by August 2023.
- 18 MW Solar Project – In July 2022, Swedish company, Alight commissioned a solar project in the southern region of the nation.
- 8 MW Solar Project – In May 2022, Alight commissioned a solar project in the southern region of the nation.
- 5 MW Solar Project – Swedish company, Logicenters is continuing work on a rooftop solar in the town of Borås on the western coast of Sweden. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2023.
In 2021, Sweden generated 70.5% of the nation’s electricity from zero-carbon power plants. Sweden also converted 99% of the country’s wet and dry waste into energy[8] in 2021.
Energy recovery from waste is the conversion of non-recyclable waste materials into electricity, which eliminates the necessity of landfills which produce greenhouse gas emissions. Sweden is turning to offshore wind to achieve the nation’s zero-carbon power goal.
Jack Kerfoot
Website – “Our Energy Conundrum”
www.jackkerfoot.com
Jack Kerfoot is a scientist, energy expert, and author of the book FUELING AMERICA, An Insider’s Journey and articles for The Hill, one of the largest independent political news sites in the United States. He has been interviewed on over 100 radio, podcast, and television stations from New York City to Los Angeles on numerous energy related topics.
[1] Sweden Population (2023) – April 21, 2023, www.worldometers.info
[2] Gross Domestic Product By Country 2022 – Worldometer
[3] The Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) – Sweden
[4] Nuclear Power In Sweden, Updated June 2022
[5] Carbon Brief – “2015: Tracking Country Climate Pledges”
[6] World Bank, “Access To Electricity (% Population) – Sweden
[7] Our World In Data, Kingdom of Sweden Energy Country Profile by Hanna Ritchie and Max Roser
[8] Government Offices of Sweden – “The Swedish Recycling Revolution” November 3, 2020