Wind power in Sweden explained

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]

Statistics

See main article: Wind power in the European Union.

Wind power in Sweden[5] [6] [7]
YearCapacity
(MW)
Generation
(GWh)
Electricity
Generation %
align=right 2000 align=center 241 align=center 447 align=center 0.3%
align=right 2001 align=center 295 align=center 482 align=center 0.3%
align=right 2002 align=center 345 align=center 608 align=center 0.4%
align=right 2003 align=center 404 align=center 679 align=center 0.5%
align=right 2004 align=center 452 align=center 850 align=center 0.6%
align=right 2005 align=center 493 align=center 949 align=center 0.6%
align=right 2006 align=center 583 align=center 988 align=center 0.7%
align=right 2007 align=center 832 align=center 1,432 align=center 1.0%
align=right 2008 align=center 1,085 align=center 1,996 align=center 1.3%
align=right 2009 align=center 1,444 align=center 2,485 align=center 1.8%
align=right 2010 align=center 2,004 align=center 3,502 align=center 2.4%
align=right 2011 align=center 2,769 align=center 6,101 align=center 4.1%
align=right 2012 align=center 3,582 align=center 7,165 align=center 4.3%
align=right 2013 align=center 4,469 align=center 9,842 align=center 6.4%
align=right 2014 align=center 5,519 align=center 11,234 align=center 7.3%
align=right 2015 align=center 6,025 align=center 16,268 align=center 10.1%
align=right 2016 align=center 6,519 align=center 15,479 align=center 9.9%
align=right 2017 align=center 6,691 align=center 17,609 align=center 10.7%
align=right 2018 align=center 7,407 align=center 16,623 align=center 10.2%
align=right 2019 align=center 8,985 align=center 19,847 align=center 11.8%
align=right 2020 align=center 9,992 align=center 27,526 align=center 16.8%
align=right 2021 align=center 12,116 align=center 27,108 align=center 15.9%
align=right 2022 align=center 14,278 align=center 33,087 align=center 19.4%

Future developments

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]

Controversy

The Association for Swedish Landscape Protection is in opposition to wind power.[12] Their chairman says:

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]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2024-02-28 . Wind energy in Europe: 2023 Statistics and the outlook for 2024-2030 . 2024-04-10 . JPWA . en.
  2. Web site: Share of electricity production from wind: Sweden. Our World in Data. 2024-06-20. 2024-07-06.
  3. Web site: Statistics and Forecast - Q2 2024. Svensk Vindenergi. 4/19. 2024-07-04. 2024-07-06.
  4. Web site: Finland, Denmark and Sweden leading on the green revolution. Rystad Energy. 2022-11-15. 2023-04-23.
  5. Web site: Number of Wind Turbines, Installed Capacity and Wind Power Production, Whole Country, 1982-. Swedish Energy Agency. 2023-03-29. 2023-03-29.
  6. Web site: Electricity production (net production) by type of power from 1970, TWh. Swedish Energy Agency. 2023-03-29. 2023-03-29.
  7. Web site: Share of electricity production from wind: Sweden. Our World in Data. 2023. 2024-04-08.
  8. Web site: IEA Wind Technology Collaboration Programme Sweden 2021 . International Energy Agency.
  9. Web site: Swedish Government to Instruct State-Owned TSO to Build Offshore Grid Infrastructure . Offshore Wind . https://web.archive.org/web/20211015104429/https://www.offshorewind.biz/2021/10/15/swedish-government-to-instruct-state-owned-tso-to-build-offshore-grid-infrastructure/ . 15 October 2021 . 15 October 2021 . live.
  10. Web site: 2022-03-14 . Swedish wind power generation to rise 70% by 2024 - agency . Reuters.
  11. Web site: Tang . Andreas . 2022-08-12 . Sweden: Making up lost ground on offshore wind . 2024-04-12 . WindEurope.
  12. Web site: Motståndet mot vindkraft växer . 2012-05-01 . 2013-03-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130310102451/http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/energi_miljo/vindkraft/article2498154.ece . dead .
  13. Web site: Lazard's Levelized Cost of Energy. November 29, 2019. 2. February 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220221181829/https://www.lazard.com/media/451086/lazards-levelized-cost-of-energy-version-130-vf.pdf. dead.