In 2021, the Nordic countries produced 284 million tonnes oil equivalent of energy. This corresponds to almost half of the primary production in the EU [1]. Of the Nordic primary production, 75 percent came from Norway. At the same time, the gross energy consumption [2] in the region was 134 million tonnes oil equivalent, 49 percent of which came from renewable sources.

In the Nordic region there is a natural occurrence of fossil fuels such as oil and gas. There are also great opportunities to produce renewable energy such as geothermal energy, hydropower and energy from renewable wastes and biofuels. This is reflected in the statistics of both production and consumption.

Primary production of energy

In 2021, the Nordic countries [3] produced 284 million tonnes oil equivalent of energy. This equals 48 percent of the total primary production [1] of energy in the European union (EU27_2020). In 1990 the energy produced in the Nordic region corresponded to 23 percent of the energy produced in the EU [4].

Source: Nordic Statistics Database, ENER06: Primary production of energy by time, reporting country and product.

The primary production of energy in the Nordic countries rose considerably during the 90s, primarily due to the Norwegian oil deposits in the North Sea. At the same time the production in the EU as a whole decreased. Since Norway is not a European union member, this increase is not reflected in the figures for the EU.

Most of the Nordic primary production in 2021, 75 percent, was produced in Norway. The other countries produced between 13 (Sweden) and less than 0.5 percent (Greenland) each.

Source: Nordic Statistics Database, ENER06: Primary production of energy by time, reporting country and product.

The most important energy sources in the Nordic countries, measured in terms of primary production are Oil and petroleum products and Gas. They account for just over a third of the total primary production each, in million toe (tonnes oil equivalent). Renewables and biofuels account for 22 percent, Nuclear heat for 6 percent and the other sources for between 0 and 1 percent each. In the EU, Renewables and biofuels and Nuclear heat are the two largest sources of energy. Together they account for 72 percent of the total primary production, Renewables and biofuels for 41 percent and Nuclear heat for 31 percent.

The large primary production of Oil and petroleum products and Gas in Norway dominates the Nordic picture, but when analysed by country it is evident that Renewables and biofuels are very important to the Nordic region. All countries except Norway have renewable energy sources accounting for 48 percent or more of the primary production. Greenland and Iceland exclusively produce energy from renewable sources, Hydropower in Greenland and Geothermal energy and Hydropower in Iceland. Greenland and Iceland exclusively produce energy from renewable sources, Hydropower in Greenland and Geothermal energy and Hydropower in Iceland. Renewable wastes and biofuels are the largest sources of renewable energy in Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, while Hydropower is the largest in Norway.

Gross inland energy consumption

The combined gross inland energy consumption [2] of the Nordic countries, Faroe Islands excluded, was 134 million tonnes oil equivalent in 2021 [3]. This equals just under 10 percent of the gross inland energy consumption in the EU.

The two regions have very similar curves, with ups and downs the same years. When compared to the 1990s, though, the Nordics are on a higher level of consumption while the EU are on a lower level. For both regions, the 2021 value means an increase in energy consumption compared to 2020, the 2021 values are in parity with the 2019 values. In 2020, the first year of the pandemic, the drop in consumption was large for both the Nordics and the EU.

Source: Nordic Statistics Database, ENER05: Gross inland energy consumption by unit, reporting country, time and product.

The largest source of energy in the Nordic region in 2021 was Renewables and biofuels, with almost half of the energy consumed coming from this source. Oil and petroleum products accounted for just under a quarter of the consumption, and Nuclear energy for 13 percent. Compared to the EU the Nordics consume more Renewables and biofuels and less Solid fuels, Oil and petroleum products and Gas.

Source: Nordic Statistics Database, ENER05: Gross inland energy consumption by unit, reporting country, time and product.

Import of energy

On top of primary production, the gross inland energy consumption takes into account, among other things, import and export of energy. When analysed by country it can be seen that all Nordic countries consumes energy from sources that they do not produce, which means that they are imported. Iceland for example, produces only Renewables and biofuels but their Gross inland energy consumption includes Solid fuels and Oil and petroleum products. Only Denmark and Norway produce Gas and Oil and petroleum products, but all countries included in the analysis consume energy from these sources except for Iceland, not consuming gas.

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[1] Primary production is the capture or extraction of fuels or energy from natural energy flows, the biosphere and natural reserves of fossil fuels within the national territory in a form suitable for use. Inert matter removed from the extracted fuels and quantities re-injected, flared or vented are not included.

[2] Gross inland energy consumption is the total energy demand of a country or region. It represents the quantity of energy necessary to satisfy inland consumption of the geographical entity under consideration.

This aggregate is calculated using the following formula: Gross inland energy consumption = Primary production + Recovered & Recycled products + Imports – Export + Stock changes – International maritime bunkers.

For secondary products, which are produced as transformation output in the middle block of energy balances, the Total energy supply can be negative as it reflects only on the trade and stock changes.

[3] No data available for Faroe Islands or Åland, but Åland is included in the data for Finland.

[4] Please note that data for Greenland is missing for 1990. Since their primary production is quite small, it does not affect the comparison between the years 1990 and 2020.