Sweden once again topped the list as the EU country with the highest share of renewable energy in 2021.
The Nordic nation got almost two thirds (63 per cent) of its energy from renewable sources that year – mainly from biomass, hydropower, wind, heat pumps and liquid biofuels. Though it’s a promising figure, some campaigners argue that bioenergy – burning waste from forests, for example – is not really renewable.
Next on the list was Finland, another heavily forested country, with a 43 per cent share. Latvia came third with a 42 per cent share which mostly came from biomass and hydropower.
Estonia, Austria and Denmark followed, with 38 per cent, 36 per cent and 35 per cent of their energy coming from renewables respectively. These countries have high amounts of hydropower and wind in their energy mixes.
63 per cent of Sweden’s energy came from renewables in 2021, making it the greenest EU country by this metric.
But when it comes to European countries more broadly, two non-EU countries are still well ahead.
Iceland gets the greatest share of its energy from renewable sources in Europe, thanks to its great geothermal resources. Around 86 per cent of its clean energy came from this source according to Eurostat’s calculations.
Norway came in second place with a stellar 76 per cent from renewables, chiefly from hydropower.