Sweden gets most of its energy from nuclear power, biofuels, and hydropower, with fossil fuels playing a surprisingly small role compared to most industrialized nations. As of 2024, nuclear supplies 27.3% of Sweden’s total energy, biofuels and waste account for 26.4%, and oil products make up 20.1%. The remainder comes from hydropower (11.6%), wind and solar (9.7%), coal (3.3%), and natural gas (1.6%).
Sweden’s Electricity Mix
Sweden’s electricity grid looks even cleaner than its overall energy supply, because the fossil fuels in the national mix are mostly burned in transport and industry rather than in power plants. In 2023, Sweden generated about 166 terawatt-hours of electricity. Hydropower was the single largest source at 40%, followed by nuclear at 28% and wind at 21%. Together, those three sources produce nearly nine out of every ten kilowatt-hours on the Swedish grid.
That low-carbon electricity supply makes Sweden a net exporter. In 2023, Sweden exported roughly 36 terawatt-hours, ranking third in Europe behind France and Germany. About 3% of the country’s total electricity production flows to neighboring countries through interconnectors linking it to Norway, Denmark, Finland, and others.
Hydropower: The Backbone of the Grid
Sweden’s geography gives it a natural advantage. Rivers running from the mountainous northwest down toward the coast have been dammed for over a century. Hydropower produced about 66 terawatt-hours in 2023, and because reservoirs can store water, hydro acts as a flexible backup. When wind output drops or demand spikes, operators release more water through turbines to balance the grid in real time. The Ume River catchment in northern Sweden alone hosts 19 hydropower stations. Climate projections suggest slightly higher river flows by 2040, which could nudge hydro output up by a few percent.
Nuclear Power
Sweden currently operates six nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of about 7,000 megawatts. Nuclear provides steady, round-the-clock electricity that complements the variable output of wind and hydro. Sweden nearly voted to phase out nuclear in a 1980 referendum, and several older reactors have been shut down since then, but the political mood has shifted. The current government has signaled support for new nuclear construction as part of meeting future electricity demand, particularly from industrial electrification.
Wind Power’s Rapid Growth
Wind energy has grown faster than any other source in Sweden over the past decade. The country added about 1 gigawatt of new wind capacity in 2024, bringing its total installed capacity to roughly 17.3 gigawatts. Most of that is onshore, concentrated in the forested interior of central and northern Sweden where wind conditions are strong and land is relatively cheap. Wind generated 34 terawatt-hours in 2023, more than double its output from just a few years earlier. Offshore wind projects are also in early development along the Baltic and North Sea coasts.
Biofuels and Waste
What sets Sweden apart from most European countries is how heavily it relies on bioenergy. At 26.4% of total energy supply, biomass is nearly as significant as nuclear. Much of this comes from the forestry industry: bark, sawdust, wood chips, and other residues are burned for heat and electricity. Sweden’s extensive district heating networks, which pipe hot water to homes and buildings across most cities and towns, run primarily on biomass. Over 70% of district heating fuel now comes from biomass, up from 53% in 2000. Fossil fuels account for just 6.5% of district heat sales. Waste incineration also contributes, turning household and industrial waste into both heat and electricity.
Where Fossil Fuels Still Matter
Oil products still represent about 20% of Sweden’s total energy supply, but almost all of that goes to transportation rather than electricity or heating. Sweden’s fossil fuel dependency in transport was 68% in 2021, which is notably lower than the 91% global average but still the sector where decarbonization has the furthest to go. Natural gas plays a minimal role at 1.6% of total energy, and coal at 3.3% is used mainly in steelmaking and some industrial processes rather than for power generation.
Sweden’s 2045 Target
Sweden has set a goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. The roadmap centers on electrifying transport and heavy industry, expanding wind power, and increasing the use of biomass and hydrogen. One flagship project, HYBRIT, aims to replace coal in steelmaking with hydrogen produced from renewable electricity. If successful, it would eliminate one of the country’s remaining large sources of industrial carbon emissions. Meeting the 2045 target will likely require significantly more electricity generation than Sweden produces today, which is why both new wind farms and potential new nuclear reactors are part of the national conversation.