Summary

The electric power consumption per capita in Sweden is the second highest in Europe (Norway has the highest), due to large amount of industry with large energy consumption (steel, paper mills, etc) and a large amount of electric heating in buildings.

About half of the electric power is produced by hydro power stations, mainly in the north of Sweden, the other half comes from Sweden's eleven nuclear reactors. To this comes some electric power from CHP plants. Windpower's share of the power production is still less than 1 percent (345 MW, 600 GWh in 2002).

The Swedish power system is interconnected with the power grids in neighbouring countries in Scandinavia and northern Europe. There is quite a large amount of power exchange between these countries during the year. Some years Sweden has a net import, other years a net export of power, mainly depending on the amount of precipitation (for hydro power).

Energy market

The market for electric power in Sweden was deregulated in the late 1990-ies. The power grid is operated by one national authority, Svenska Kraftnät (400 and 230 kV) and regional grid operators, and this has not been deregulated (it is a natural monopoly). Power production as well as trading of electric power is free, any power company has to right to get connected to the grid (if technically possible) and consumers can buy their power from any company. The price is negotiated between producer and buyer, most on long term contracts. There is also a spot market; Nord pool.

Windpower producers get, beside the power price, also a "green" certificate. The price for these certificates are set by the certificate market. All companies that sell power to consumers must have a specified quota of renewable energy, that they can get by buying these certificates.

Legal situation

Sweden has an official planning target for Windpower, decided by the parliament in 2001, and set to a capacity that can produce 10 TWh a year by 2015. In 2003 this target was specified for different regions. The next step will be to specify targets for municipalities.

To develop windpower plants it is necessary to get building permission from the local authorities, and for installations > 1 MW also from the county administrative board. For wind farms > 10 MW it is necessary to get permission from the environment court and the government. The process to apply for permissions is complicated and takes a long time; years rather than months.

Acceptance among the population

A large majority (64 %) of the population in Sweden prefers windpower if new power plants have to be built, according to a nation wide opinion poll in 2002. However, there is a Nimby effect (Windpower is ok, but not in my back yard) in Sweden as well as in most other countries. For actual projects, most people are in favour, but usually one or a few people strongly oppose it, and appeal the permissions when they are granted. This delays many projects for years.

The largest hurdle however has been the negative attitude among the civil servants in local communities and county administrations. This was one of the reasons for the parliament to set a planning target, and to specify targets down to a local level. Most federal authorities have a positive attitude to windpower development.

Impacts in the economy

Windpower has an impact on the Swedish economy on several different levels. Sweden only has one wind turbine manufacturer (of medium/large turbines), with a marginal position on the market. However, several Swedish companies manufacture and export different components for manufacturers in Denmark, Germany and other countries, and this has become an important part of their production; bearings, main shafts, generators, towers etc.

Windpower also has a positive impact on the local/regional economy. New installations create jobs for developing companies, local entrepreneurs who build access roads and foundations, and for the grid operator, who connects the turbines to the grid. Landowners, mainly farmers, get an additional yearly income from land lease contracts.

The owner structure for windpower is also quite different from the ordinary power business. Large power plants are owned by large power companies. Many wind turbines are owned by local companies, farmers and cooperatives; they are owned by people in the same region as the turbines are installed. Thus the benefit and profit from the turbines stays in the region, and will have a positive impact on regional development.

Problems

The main problem for windpower development in Sweden is still the complicated and time consuming application process to get necessary permissions. This also creates insecurity and constitutes a significant economic risk, since the outcome of practically every project is uncertain. The official planning target might contribute to solve this problem within a few years time.

Statistics

Windpower in Sweden, 1998-2002

During the five years from 1998 to the end of 2002 power production from windpower has doubled; it has increased from 300 GWh/a to 600 GWh/a. The line shows the increase of installed power. (Diagram from Elforsk; Årsrapport 2002).

Windpower production per month, 2000-2002

This diagram shows the monthly variations of windpower production 2000-2002. The graph shows the typical variation of electric power consumption in Sweden during a year. Windpower produces most power when the demand is high, which is an obvious advantage. (Diagram from Elforsk; Ârsrapport 2002).

Figures about energy:

Total turnover/supply (2000): 585 TWh
Portion coal: 4%
Portion natural gases: 1%
Portion mineral oil, including LPG: 33%
Portion nuclear power: 29%
Portion water and wind: 14%
Portion others: 2%
Portion energy-ex-/import-balance: 30% self-supplied (hydropower and bioenergy)

Electric power consumption per inhabitant (2000): 60 GJ (17 MWh/capita).

Among this: Brown coal: 3%
Natural gas: 0%
Mineral oil: 2-3%
Nuclear energy: 38%
Water and wind: 55%
biofuel CHP: 2-3%
electricity export/import-balance: 5 TWh net import, (2 GJ per inhabitant)

Wind energy

Wind energy converters (2002): about 50
Accumulated wind energy converters (2002): about 620
Power of the wind energy converters (2002): 40 MW
Accumulated power of the wind energy converters (2002): 345 MW
Generated wind electricity (2002): 610 GWh (2,2 PJ)
Price for wind energy current per kW: 700-800 Euro/kW, on shore
Price for wind energy current approx 3-4 Eurocent per kWh, on shore