Sweden has a total of 16.4 GW of wind power capacity at the end of 2023, the 5th highest in Europe and most per capita. [1] Wind power produced 20.9% of national electricity generation in 2023, up from 0.3% in 2000. [2]
In July 2024, the Swedish Wind Energy Association (SWEA) projected that cumulative wind power capacity in the country will rise to 19.5 GW by the end of 2026. [3]
Longer-term projections from other market analysts estimate 30 GW of wind power capacity by 2030. [4]
| Year | Capacity (MW) | Generation (GWh) | Electricity Generation % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 241 | 447 | 0.3% |
| 2001 | 295 | 482 | 0.3% |
| 2002 | 345 | 608 | 0.4% |
| 2003 | 404 | 679 | 0.5% |
| 2004 | 452 | 850 | 0.6% |
| 2005 | 493 | 949 | 0.6% |
| 2006 | 583 | 988 | 0.7% |
| 2007 | 832 | 1,432 | 1.0% |
| 2008 | 1,085 | 1,996 | 1.3% |
| 2009 | 1,444 | 2,485 | 1.8% |
| 2010 | 2,004 | 3,502 | 2.4% |
| 2011 | 2,769 | 6,101 | 4.1% |
| 2012 | 3,582 | 7,165 | 4.3% |
| 2013 | 4,469 | 9,842 | 6.4% |
| 2014 | 5,519 | 11,234 | 7.3% |
| 2015 | 6,025 | 16,268 | 10.1% |
| 2016 | 6,519 | 15,479 | 9.9% |
| 2017 | 6,691 | 17,609 | 10.7% |
| 2018 | 7,407 | 16,623 | 10.2% |
| 2019 | 8,985 | 19,847 | 11.8% |
| 2020 | 9,992 | 27,526 | 16.8% |
| 2021 | 12,116 | 27,108 | 15.9% |
| 2022 | 14,278 | 33,087 | 19.4% |
The International Energy Agency's (IEA) Wind Technology Collaboration Programme 2021 report outlines Sweden's progress in wind energy. By 2021, Sweden had achieved a total wind power capacity of 12.116 MW from 4,679 turbines. This aligns with Sweden's environmental goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 40% by 2030 and aiming for net-zero emissions by 2045. Additionally, Sweden targets 100% renewable electricity production by 2040. Wind power generation in Sweden is expected to reach about 47 TWh by 2024, supported by growth in both onshore and offshore wind farm developments. [8]
In 2021, the Swedish government ordered new transmission to be planned for offshore wind connections. [9]
Sweden's wind power generation is set for a substantial increase, expected to rise by about 70% from 27.4 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2021 to 46.9 TWh by 2024, according to forecasts by the Swedish Energy Agency. This growth is supported by the addition of 2.1 gigawatts (GW) of wind power capacity in 2021, marking a significant increase to the country's renewable energy capabilities. This initiative is part of Sweden's plan to enhance its total net electricity production, which is expected to grow from 165.7 terawatt hours (TWh) to 183.5 TWh in the same period. [10]
In 2022, Sweden's offshore wind sector had 15 gigawatts (GW) of projects in the permit application stage, expected to commence operations before 2030. The total project pipeline comprises 90 GW, with the majority not projected to be operational until after 2032. Notably, Vattenfall's Swedish Kriegers Flak offshore wind farm, with a capacity of 640 MW, has obtained a permit and awaits the final investment decision. [11]
The Association for Swedish Landscape Protection is in opposition to wind power. [12] Their chairman says:
It is beginning to get through, I think, that with the existing nuclear and hydro power available in Sweden, the role for intermittent wind power is marginal and primarily as an exercise in the following of ”fashion”. It has little to contribute to either generation capacity or transmission security. And it is expensive.
— Elisabeth von Brömsen, Public radio SR, March 2011
At the time of making the statement in 2011, wind power accounted for 4.3% of the electricity in Sweden as listed above. As of 2017 it accounted for 12.4%. Comparing the levelized cost of energy, as of November 2019 wind power was estimated at 28 to 54 USD per MWh, compared to 118 to 192 USD per MWh for nuclear power. [13]
The electricity sector in Norway relies predominantly on hydroelectricity. A significant share of the total electrical production is consumed by national industry.
Energy in the United Kingdom came mostly from fossil fuels in 2021. Total energy consumption in the United Kingdom was 142.0 million tonnes of oil equivalent in 2019. In 2014, the UK had an energy consumption per capita of 2.78 tonnes of oil equivalent compared to a world average of 1.92 tonnes of oil equivalent. Demand for electricity in 2023 was 29.6 GW on average, supplied through 235 TWh of UK-based generation and 24 TWh of energy imports.
The United Kingdom is the best location for wind power in Europe and one of the best in the world. The combination of long coastline, shallow water and strong winds make offshore wind unusually effective.
Wind power in Germany is a growing industry. The installed capacity was 55.6 gigawatts (GW) at the end of 2017, with 5.2 GW from offshore installations. In 2020, 23.3% of the country's total electricity was generated through wind power, up from 6.2% in 2010 and 1.6% in 2000.
As of 2023, Estonia has a wind power installed capacity of about 376 MW. All operational wind farms in the country are on land. Offshore wind farms are planned on Lake Peipus and in the Baltic Sea near the island of Hiiumaa.
As of 2023, Europe had a total installed wind capacity of 255 gigawatts (GW). In 2017, a total of 15,680 MW of wind power was installed, representing 55% of all new power capacity, and the wind power generated 336 TWh of electricity, enough to supply 11.6% of the EU's electricity consumption.
Brazil is the 7th largest energy consumer in the world and the largest in South America. At the same time, it is an important oil and gas producer in the region and the world's second largest ethanol fuel producer. The government agencies responsible for energy policy are the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), the National Council for Energy Policy (CNPE), the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) and the National Agency of Electricity (ANEEL). State-owned companies Petrobras and Eletrobras are the major players in Brazil's energy sector, as well as Latin America's.
China is the world leader in wind power generation, with the largest installed capacity of any nation and continued rapid growth in new wind facilities. With its large land mass and long coastline, China has exceptional wind power resources: Wind power remained China's third-largest source of electricity at the end of 2021, accounting for 7.5% of total power generation.
Wind power in Finland has been the fastest growing source of electricity in recent years. In 2023, Finland covered 18.2% of the yearly electricity demand with wind power production, which was 18.5% of the domestic production. Wind capacity was up 1.3 GW from the previous year and wind production up 25%. This compares to an average wind power share of 19% in the EU.
In 2021 France reached a total of 18,676 megawatts (MW) installed wind power capacity placing France at that time as the world's seventh largest wind power nation by installed capacity, behind the United Kingdom and Brazil and ahead of Canada and Italy. According to the IEA the yearly wind production was 20.2 TWh in 2015, representing almost 23% of the 88.4 TWh from renewable sources in France during that year. Wind provided 4.3% of the country's electricity demand in 2015.
Denmark's western electrical grid is part of the Synchronous grid of Continental Europe whereas the eastern part is connected to the Synchronous grid of Northern Europe via Sweden.
The electricity sector in France is dominated by its nuclear power, which accounted for 71.7% of total production in 2018, while renewables and fossil fuels accounted for 21.3% and 7.1%, respectively. France has the largest share of nuclear electricity in the world, and together with renewable energy supplies, this has helped its grid achieve very low carbon intensity.
In 2023, Spain consumed 244,686 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity, a 2.3% decline from 2022.
Electricity production in Belgium reached 87.9 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2020, with nuclear power (39%), natural gas (30%), and wind (15%) as the primary sources. Additional contributions came from biofuels and waste (7%), solar (6%), and coal (2%). In the same year, the total electricity demand was 80.9 TWh, with consumption predominantly from the industrial sector (50%), followed by commercial (25%), residential (23%), and transport (2%) sectors.
The electricity sector in Switzerland relies mainly on hydroelectricity, since the Alps cover almost two-thirds of the country's land mass, providing many large mountain lakes and artificial reservoirs suited for hydro power. In addition, the water masses drained from the Swiss Alps are intensively used by run-of-the-river hydroelectricity (ROR). With 9,052 kWh per person in 2008, the country's electricity consumption is relatively high and was 22% above the European Union's average.
The Polish energy sector is the fifth largest in Europe. By the end of 2023, the installed generation capacity had reached 55.216 GW, while electricity consumption for that year was 167.52 TWh and generation was 163.63 TWh, with 26% of this coming from renewables.
Energy in Belarus describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in Belarus. Belarus is a net energy importer. According to IEA, the energy import vastly exceeded the energy production in 2015, describing Belarus as one of the world's least energy sufficient countries in the world. Belarus is very dependent on Russia.
Latvia is a net energy importer. Primary energy use in Latvia was 49 TWh, or 22 TWh per million persons in 2009. In 2018, electricity consumption per capita was 3731 kWh.
Georgia had a total primary energy supply (TPES) of 4.793 Mtoe in 2016. Electricity consumption was 11.5 TWh in 2016. Electricity production was 11.6 TWh, of which 81% from hydroelectricity and 19% from natural gas.
Denmark is a leading country in renewable energy production and usage. Renewable energy sources collectively produced 81% of Denmark's electricity generation in 2022, and are expected to provide 100% of national electric power production from 2030. Including energy use in the heating/cooling and transport sectors, Denmark is expected to reach 100% renewable energy in 2050, up from the 34% recorded in 2021.
