Sweden is considered the largest country in Northern Europe, and aside from the beautiful countryside, the city landmarks and the delicious food, the eco-conscious culture runs deep throughout the people. The clean streets & the gardens around the country show how important natural resources are for the Swedish people. And the entire topography of the country is conducive to working on alternate methods of energy consumption; especially when you think about the energy crisis.
Energy Crisis – Cause for Concern
In 2022, global warming alarms are not the only cause for concern when it comes to the energy crisis. Moscow’s planned invasion of Ukraine has prompted a cut-off from the very nation that contributes to the world’s third-biggest exporter of crude oil. Fossil foils that are finite around the world, have now slowly been banned across the EU. By reducing gas imports by nearly two-thirds, EU nations are looking at renewable energy leaders like Sweden while working on issues of climate change with an ongoing war deepening the energy crisis.
The Growth of Renewable Energy in Sweden
Since the 19th century, Sweden has been taking slow steps to move towards alternate sources of energy production with the focus on being self-reliant. The country has developed over time to include energy harnessed from wind & biomass, with hydropower being the most dominant as of 2020. The continuous stream of flowing water provides energy for AC cooling in Swedish cities, while the 63% of forest cover in the country provides biomass energy for heating homes during the Swedish winter.
Currently, a good 54.6% of energy production is through renewable energy sources, making it an example to study. Not only is Sweden setting an example among the world nations, but the country is the first to meet the EU set 2020 renewable energy target while focusing on achieving 100% renewable energy by 2040 and being completely carbon neutral by 2045.
This might seem like an ambitious goal, but the country has shown how the government of Sweden is aiming for the target with the right set of policies through high carbon taxes. The Swedish Energy Agency & the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency are working together with industries to develop strategies to take advantage of the latest technological innovation and use the Swedish landscape to build up solar energy production in the country by 2030.
The Development of Solar Energy Projects
To combat the energy crisis while sticking to its ambitious goals, Sweden is now looking forward to branching out and using solar energy as another alternative to energy production. Solar energy is currently limited, but growing rapidly; with the largest solar deal being signed in 2021 to accommodate nearly 40 land-based solar energy parks in the southern part of the country to bolster the country’s 2045 goal. Government funding has significantly increased in response to the goals set by the country, but there are incentives for individual contributions including cheap energy prices.
Solar Energy Usage in Sweden
According to CEO Kenny Fogel of renewable energy firm HPSolartech, “Sweden receives about 1821 hours of sunlight per year,” making it helpful to add solar energy to the growing list of the country’s radical changes to the energy market.
The Swedish solar website is among the many contributors helping provide cost-effective solutions for locals who want to make the change right at home. Setting up a solar energy system for your home is an upfront investment that can be expensive depending on the quantity of electricity you need, but it is also likely to make your unit self-sustaining in the years to come.
All you need is to get quotations from the company, install a few solar panels on the roof and get a chance to use solar energy and even sell the surplus electricity to the energy grid for profit. The professionals providing solar energy services are doubling up the efforts to meet the country’s goals, but this also gives you a chance to be a completely self-sustaining unit faster; especially if you own a home or a business building.
Future Predictions
Sweden is not only revolutionising the energy production market, but it is also strengthening EU ties and inspiring countries across the pond to create strategies and work towards a more self-reliant method of energy production. It is up to each country to take advantage of technological innovation and create laws and guidelines to combat climate change. With proper management and implementation, renewable energy sources are likely to shift energy demand from fossil fuel production, ultimately playing a large part in shifting the trajectory of global warming concerns.
