Sweden's electricity landscape is a remarkable testament to its commitment to low-carbon energy sources, with a whopping 97% of its electricity generated from clean sources between August 2024 and July 2025. Hydropower leads the pack by contributing roughly 40%, while nuclear energy supplies a bit more than a quarter. Wind energy is also gaining strength, capturing over a quarter of the generation share. Solar energy, although still small, is contributing a growing share to the mix. The country's achievement is even more significant considering its role as a net exporter of electricity, which aids neighboring regions in reducing their carbon emissions. The focus on electrifying other sectors, such as transport, heating, and industry, is the next big step towards further decreasing reliance on fossil fuels and driving higher electricity consumption.
Is Electricity Growing in Sweden?
Despite the strong foundation in low-carbon electricity, the trend in Sweden currently shows declining electricity consumption, with the latest figure at around 15,164 kWh per person. This is notably lower than the 2001 peak of 18,167 kWh per person, marking a decrease of 3,004 kWh per person. Similarly, low-carbon electricity generation has also diminished from a high of 17,464 kWh per person in 2001 to the latest figure of 14,661 kWh per person, a drop of 2,804 kWh per person. This stagnation is worrying, as an increase in electricity use, particularly from clean sources, is vital to accommodate future energy needs driven by electrification and technological advancements while simultaneously ensuring environmental sustainability.
Suggestions
To bolster its low-carbon electricity generation, Sweden can focus on expanding its successful nuclear and wind sectors. These technologies have consistently proven their efficiency and reliability in generating vast amounts of clean electricity. Increasing their capacity not only supports current demands but also anticipates the future heightened needs driven by electrification of various sectors. While solar currently holds a smaller share, it also presents an untapped potential for Sweden’s long stretches of summer daylight, which could further diversify and stabilize the country’s low-carbon electricity portfolio. By investing in these areas, Sweden can maintain and even enhance its leadership in the global transition toward sustainable and green electricity.
History
Looking back at the history of low-carbon electricity in Sweden, there have been significant developments and fluctuations. In the early 1980s to mid-1990s, nuclear energy made substantial advancements, particularly in 1981 and 1986, with notable increases. However, the late 1990s saw variable shifts with substantial gains and losses in both nuclear and hydroelectric power. A critical downturn was observed in 1992 with a significant decline in nuclear generation, balanced temporarily by hydro gains. Similar fluctuating trends were evident with hydro, showing both peaks and troughs throughout the decades. The year 2000 witnessed another sharp decline in nuclear production, and this trend unfortunately persisted into 2020, which underscores the need for Sweden to aggressively stabilize and renew its nuclear investments to avoid setbacks and ensure a robust, sustainable energy future.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.