Abstract
A comparative assessment of the bioenergy and renewable energy situation in the Nordic countries, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway, was conducted in this study. What factors have contributed to the current high use of renewable energy and especially bioenergy in the Nordic countries? What are the sources of renewable energy and where renewable energy is being used? The development of renewable energy use is described by time series and compared to the overall development of the EU. All of the Nordic countries have high renewable energy consumption and have already met the target for gross final energy consumption according to the Europe 2020 strategy while the EU is behind the 20% target. In total, 53.1 Mtoe renewable energy was used in the Nordic countries in 2018, which was 51% of the final energy consumption, 103.3 Mtoe. Bioenergy accounts for approximately half of renewable energy, 25.8 Mtoe, and is anticipated to develop further. Especially in Norway and Sweden the share of renewable energy was high (73% and 55%) compared to Finland and Denmark (41% and 36%). Norway is famous for hydropower (81% share of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in 2018) and Denmark for wind power production (20%), while Finland utilizes a lot of biomass for co-generation and heating (79%), followed by Denmark (64%) and Sweden (55%) in 2018. At EU level, bioenergy plays even a higher role than in Nordic countries in renewable energy production (56%) in 2017 and is anticipated to continue to grow in all end-use sectors such as heating and cooling, electricity generation and transport, in the 2020s.
Highlights
Woody biomass, as forest residues and by-products of the forest industry, used for electricity and heat production, is the biggest source of renewable energy in the EU and will contribute significantly to the EU’s target of 20% renewable energy by 2020 [1]
Norway is famous for hydropower (81% share of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in 2018) and Denmark for wind power production (20%), while Finland utilizes a lot of biomass for co-generation and heating (79%), followed by Denmark (64%) and Sweden (55%) in 2018
The assessment of National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPs) shows that total biomass primary demand will rise by 140% in 2020, and the major part will come from solid biomass (i.e. 67% of total biomass)
Summary
As forest residues and by-products of the forest industry, used for electricity and heat production, is the biggest source of renewable energy in the EU and will contribute significantly to the EU’s target of 20% renewable energy by 2020 [1]. Harvested biomass will play a significant role in mitigating climate change and ensuring energy supply security and while promoting economic growth and employment. The National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPs) indicate that around 11.8% of the EU’s gross final energy consumption will originate from biomass in 2020. According to the NREAPs, bioenergy will account for 17% of the EU’s predicted heating and cooling and 7% of electricity consumption. Bioenergy will be the dominant renewable energy source (90%). Only a few units producing advanced biofuels from wood-based raw materials has been deployed so far, despite EU risk financing tools, such as the NER 300 program [2]
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