Sweden

Wind Energy in Sweden


sweden.jpgIn 2017, Sweden installed 199 MW of new wind energy capacity (605 MW were installed in 2016). At the end of the year, the country’s total installed capacity was 6,691 MW from 3,437 wind turbines.

Through the EU burden-sharing agreement. Sweden has a renewable energy goal of at least 50% of total energy use by 2020. New ambitious targets were announced in 2016 for 100% renewable electricity production in 2040. The Swedish Energy Agency estimates that the country will need to install an additional 2.5 to 6 TWh of renewable power capacity per year between 2030 and 2040 to reach that goal, and that wind power will provide a large part of it.

As Sweden’s primary wind power R,D&D funding agency, the Swedish Energy Agency finances research conducted by universities and industries in several research programs. The overarching goals of wind power R,D&D is to help Sweden reach its targets and national objectives for a renewable energy system, contribute to business development, and increase jobs and exports.

To learn more about wind energy in Sweden, please review their chapter in the IEA Wind TCP 2017 Annual Report.

National Targets


According to the EU burden-sharing agreement, Sweden is required to achieve a renewable energy share of 49% by 2020. However, Sweden increased this goal to a renewable energy share of at least 50% of the total energy use.

In 2016, the government, the Moderate Party, the Centre Party, and the Christian Democrats reached an agreement on Sweden’s long-term energy policy. This agreement consists of a common roadmap for a controlled transition to an entirely renewable electricity system, with targets as follows:

  • By 2030, Sweden’s energy use should be 50% more efficient than in 2005. The target is expressed in terms of energy relatively to GDP.
  • By 2040, Sweden should achieve 100% renewable electricity production. This target is not a deadline for banning nuclear power, nor does it mean closing nuclear power plants through political decisions.
  • By 2045, Sweden is to have no net emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere; thereafter, the country should achieve negative emissions.

Operational Details


Wind energy installations in 2017 resulted in 199 MW of new capacity—significantly lower than the 605 MW installed in 2016. At the end of 2017, Sweden’s total installed capacity was 6,691 MW from 3,369 wind turbines. The total electrical energy output from wind was 17.6 TWh.

Interest is gaining around Northern Sweden, as the region exhibits many areas with high potential for wind power. Turbines in these cold climate areas face several challenges not found in areas with warmer climates, including turbine blade icing, which leads to substantial production losses and risk for falling ice.

R,D&D Priorities and Budget


Four research programs carried out publicly-funded wind energy research in 2017: Vindforsk, Vindval, the Swedish Wind Power Technology Centre (SWPTC), and VindEL. All four programs were under the supervision of the Swedish Energy Agency.

The present period of Vindforsk runs from 2013-2017 with a total budget of 60 million SEK (6.2 million EUR; 6.6 million USD). Vindval is financed by the Swedish Energy Agency with a budget of 27 million SEK (2.8 million EUR; 3.0 million USD). The SWPTC runs from 2010-2018. The program is financed by industry, some universities, and the Swedish Energy Agency, with a total budget of 96 million SEK (10.0 million EUR; 10.6 million USD). The program VindEL runs from 2017-2021. It is financed by the Swedish Energy Agency and has a total budget of 133 million SEK (13 million EUR; 16 million USD).