Powering a Sustainable Future With Green Energy
Which countries produce the most renewable energy?
In today’s world, producing green, renewable energy is more important than ever. As we address the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation, going green in terms of renewable sources of power can only help towards a sustainable future. Green energy refers to that produced from renewable resources (wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal) which are clean, abundant, and have little if any effect on the planet itself.
By adopting green energy, countries can reap numerous benefits, for example: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening their energy security, creating new jobs, and much more. In this green race for free energy, some countries are far ahead of others, thus providing an incredible role model!
We have prepared for you a list of the TOP 5 countries that are leaders in the production of green energy. Note – not all positions are so obvious!
1. Iceland
100%! Iceland relies 100 percent on renewable energy, which makes it a truly unique case. Their secret lies in the ground, literally! The country uses geothermal energy, which it has in abundance due to volcanic activity. This hot green energy accounts for about 25% of electricity production and is responsible for heating as many as 9 out of 10 houses!
The potential of this energy coming straight from the earth was even recognized by the UN and proposed as a model for other nations to adopt in the process of transitioning to sustainable energy sources.
2. Norway
Norway is also an undisputed leader in green energy. Already in 2016, it managed to cover as much Top 5 Countries Producing Green Energy: Powering a Sustainable Future 98% of the demand for electricity with energy from renewable sources! Today, they are at the forefront of hydropower production, which they have been doing since the 1800s.
Hydropower plays a crucial role in the Norwegian energy supply, relying on adequate precipitation and reservoir inflow. For about the last ten years, Norway has also been developing its wind farms, but compared to hydropower, wind power is still a small percentage of the total.
3. Sweden
Already in 2012, Sweden achieved its goal of obtaining 50% of its energy from renewable sources, thus ahead of the transformation plan by as much as 8 years! Not to mention the gap it left between itself and other European (and others!) countries. Today, more than 10 years later, most of the countries in the world are not even close to 50%.
So, how was it possible? Most of the Swedish green energy is sourced from water and bioenergy. Hydropower (water) is primarily utilized for electricity generation, while bioenergy is predominantly used for heating purposes.
4. New Zealand
New Zealand has decided to achieve Net-Zero by 2035 and is going toward this goal like a storm! Currently, 84% of their energy is of renewable origin. They’re even described as a “success story for the development of renewable energy” by The International Energy Agency (IEA).
They owe their huge success to their location, thanks to which they have a strong wind (approx. 25% of their total electricity needs) and geothermal energy (22% of primary energy supply).
5. Brazil
Who would have thought that while the Brazilian government decided to cut down the Amazon further, the country as a whole was making an amazing contribution to the green transition in the world.
Already in 2018 79% of the domestically produced energy used in Brazil was from renewable sources. Mainly from hydropower (as much as 65% of the total demand!), yet wind power and solar power also have a not-so-small contribution.
Finally, it should be said that the leadership of these countries in the production of renewable energy results not only from their natural location but above all from their involvement in the matter for many years. Norway might not be so high in the ranking if it hadn’t been practicing water energy for over two hundred years! It is investing in these renewables and innovations that lead to the success of the green transformation.
Their dedication to various renewable sources of energy, such as wind, solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal, has led not solely toward decreased carbon emissions but also towards economic prosperity and ecological sustainability. Through financing in clean energy technology, imposition of proactive governance, advancement of ingenuity and following SDGs, these countries confirmed that transitioning to green energy is both feasible and advantageous.
As we tackle the difficulties brought by climate change and our ambition for sustainable development, let’s channel our inspiration from these leaders and attempt to copy their triumphs in harnessing nature’s power for a greener and more viable future for forthcoming generations.