Which countries are leaders in renewable energy?

Most of the world's top countries for renewable energy output are blessed with the natural resources - others have ambitious goals to get there.

Several countries are taking advantage of their naturally windy conditions. Source: AAP

Iceland

A geothermal power station outside Reykjavik in Iceland. Source: AAP

The tiny Nordic nation's natural resources allow it to boast that almost all its energy comes from renewable sources, with 75 per cent from hydroelectricity (generated by water rotating through a turbine shaft) and 24.5 per cent geothermal energy. The latter is generated from hot water circulating among rocks below the earth’s surface, or through cold water pumped into hot rocks and obtaining the heated water at the surface.

Policies instituted in the mid-20th century have taken Iceland from one of the poorest nations in the world to one with high living standards. A whopping 99 per cent of houses are heated with renewable energy.

Sweden

Göta River with its once thundering falls at Trollhattan. Source: Moment Open

In 2016, Sweden obtained 57 per cent of its power from renewables like hydropower and wind, which it’s claiming is the highest in the EU. It’s aiming to go fossil free by 2040. In 2003, to promote renewable energy it launched a green certification scheme in which electricity must come from wind, solar, geothermal or wave power. Energy retailers must buy some certificates as part of their supply. The country also claimed to have about 12,000 electric and hybrid cars in 2015.

Denmark

Offshore windmills in the North Sea offshore from near Esbjerg, Denmark. Source: AAP

Denmark is taking advantage of its naturally windy conditions by powering its grid with 42 per cent wind generation. In comparison, coal makes up 35 per cent of Denmark’s energy mix. The country is aiming to rid itself of fossil fuels entirely by 2050. Wind energy accounts for more than five per cent of the nation’s exports. In addition, Denmark’s biggest energy company Danish Oil and Natural Gas has just announced it will abandon fossil fuels entirely by 2023 and focus on green energy.

Germany

Wind turbines seen in the Wiedinghard Koog near Klanxbuell, Germany. Source: AAP

This year Germany raised the proportion of energy from renewable sources to 35 per cent, compared with 33 per cent the previous year. It is also aiming to phase out its nuclear power plants by 2022 and obtain 80 per cent of its electricity supply from renewable energy sources. Since 2009, generation from renewable sources has almost doubled. Earlier this year, it set a national record after obtaining 85 per cent of its electricity from renewables in one day on April 30.

Switzerland

Moiry Barrage (dam of Moiry)in valley of Valais in Switzerland. Source: Getty

Hydroelectricity sources make up a whopping 60 per cent of its energy mix. The rest is largely nuclear, with solar PV and thermal making up the rest of the mix. Under new laws, the country wants a four-fold increase in generation from wind, solar and biomass sources and ban the building of new nuclear plants. Swiss voters have also backed the laws which will slug them around an extra $50 a year to fund renewable subsidies.

What about Australia?

More than 60 per cent of electricity was generated from coal in Australia, with renewables making up 14 per cent of that mix last year. Under the government's new national energy guarantee, announced in 2017, coal and gas will contribute between 64-72 per cent of energy generation by 2030, and deliver 28 to 36 per cent renewables by 2030.

3 min read

Published 18 October 2017 7:25pm

Updated 4 April 2018 10:47am

By Rashida Yosufzai