Scandinavian countries are renowned for their clean living and efficiency. Countries like Sweden even use their influence to make Europe greener by closing coal-fired cogeneration plants and committing to lofty coal-free goals by 2030. Learn what the U.S. could learn from clean energy adoption in Scandinavia.
This commitment to clean energy is why all Scandinavian countries emit less than half the CO2 per capita of US citizens. In 2022 alone, US emissions per capita topped 14.9 t while Norwegians emitted just 7.5 t. Impressively, Danes emitted just 4.9 t while Swedes came in at 3.6 t per capita — nearly a quarter of American emissions.
Scandinavian countries are committed to clean energy adoption, too. They find a way to make solar, wind, and hydroelectric power work, and put the US to shame when it comes to setting sustainability standards. This makes Northern Europe the perfect role model for the US to follow as the world switches to clean, green energy.
What the U.S. Could Learn from Clean Energy Adoption in Scandinavia, article continues below the image.
Renewable Energy Production
Scandinavian nations outpace the rest of Europe in terms of clean energy production. Countries like Norway already source 67.5% of all their energy from renewable sources like wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. This is helping to close the green energy gap and reduce the carbon footprint of Scandinavian citizens. Some Scandinavian countries are experimenting with Biomass, too, and sourcing a considerable amount of energy from animal and plant matter.
Countries like Denmark also produce solar energy, despite the fact that the winters are notoriously dark. This proves that the US can get around the biggest problems associated with solar energy, as most US states receive far more annual sunlight than Denmark. Instead of dragging their feet on solar panels, US decision-makers should target ways to improve PV efficiency, increase storage capacity, and maximize solar reliability.
Scandinavian countries like Sweden are world leaders in hydroelectricity, too. Hydropower accounts for 45% of the nation’s green energy production and plays an integral role in powering the country’s electricity grid. Hydropower works by harnessing water’s potential energy via turbines. These turbines can capture kinetic energy and turn it into electricity via a generator and a transformer. Swedes have been using this method for over a century and used it to power Sweden’s industrialization in the 19th century.
In the US, clean energy suppliers can use Sweden as a case study to alleviate investors’ fear of reliability. This is key, as hydropower has an entry cost of tens of millions of dollars. Many hydropower dams will need to be relicensed soon, too, meaning public support and awareness are more important now than ever before. Public support is crucial when trying to transition some of the US’s 90,000 dams to hydropower generation stations, as the typical hydropower station is a 50 to 100-year commitment from stakeholders across industries.
What the U.S. Could Learn from Clean Energy Adoption in Scandinavia, article continues below image.
Ingenuity and Clean Energy
Like most countries, Scandinavian nations face serious challenges while trying to switch to more renewable energy. Rather than calling it quits early, nations like Denmark are leading the charge toward a cleaner future by creating energy islands that can help capture wind energy and support giant offshore wind turbines. This requires a serious investment of up to $34 billion, but will generate enough electrical power to send some of the energy to neighboring nations, too.
These same principles apply to home modifications, too. Norway has made headline news for rediscovering the power of heat pumps in recent years. Two-thirds of Norwegians now have heat pumps in their home due to their cost-saving features. Other benefits of installing a heat pump include:
- Improved health due to fewer fumes;
- Increased energy efficiency;
- 20% reduction in greenhouse gases;
- Require minimal maintenance.
As the US population continues to grow, increased adoption of heat pumps could significantly reduce emissions while keeping folks warm for less. This is key in states like Texas, where politicians have made headline news for failing to keep their grid properly powered. Heat pumps cannot completely solve faulty grids, but can reduce emissions and minimize strain on the overall system.
Scandinavian businesses are also leveraging ingenuity to make a difference by committing to sustainability standards. In Norway, businesses are leading the charge towards net zero by 2030 by adopting more clean energy and investing in solutions like electric vehicle fleets. This places pressure on all the nation’s stakeholders to act responsibly while solving social, environmental, and economic challenges. This is an ethos that could easily become the norm in the US, too, with the right mix of legislation and improved environmental education.
What the U.S. Could Learn from Clean Energy Adoption in Scandinavia – Conclusion
Adopting clean energy is the largest challenge our generation faces. Scandinavian countries are leading the charge by adopting a clean energy grid and by making the most of existing technology. Countries like Sweden, Norway, and Denmark have set lofty sustainability goals that empower business leaders and hold stakeholders accountable. This approach could make a world of difference in the US, where climate change and green energy remain a contentious subject of debate.
What the U.S. Could Learn from Clean Energy Adoption in Scandinavia, written dedicatedly for Daily Scandinavian by Ainsley Lawrence. Ainsley is a regular contributor to Daily Scandinavian. She is a freelance writer from the Pacific Northwest. Ainsley is interested in better living. through technology and education. She is frequently lost in a good book.
Feature image (on top): © Mudit Agarwal / Unsplash
