Energy systems in the countries where Vattenfall operates
United Kingdom
Power generation in the UK reflects a diverse energy mix. In 2007, electricity generation was dominated by natural gas (40.1%), hard coal (35.2%) and nuclear power (16.0%). Hydro power and renewables contributed 5.9%, and net imports provided 1.5% of electricity supplied. The UK is the largest oil producer and exporter in the EU, and is also a large producer of natural gas. 40% of the country’s economy relies on oil and gas. The country also has
significant hard coal reserves.
Germany
Germany’s electricity generation is based on 23% hard coal, 24.5% lignite, 22% nuclear, 13% gas and oil, and 14% renewables. The political decision has been made to phase-out nuclear power. Germany has significant lignite and hard coal reserves (40.8 and 23 billion tonnes, respectively). The mining of hard coal has been subsidised and will be shut down by 2018. Lignite mining is not subsidised (180 million tonnes mined in 2007). There are few oil and gas reserves.
Denmark
Until the early 1990s, coal was the dominant fuel used in the generation of electricity. Today 50% of Denmark’s electricity is still generated using hard coal, 20% from gas and oil, and a growing percentage from renewable resources (27% in 2007, of which approximately 20% is wind power). There is no potential for hydro power and no nuclear power. Denmark has its own oil and gas reserves, but no domestic coal reserves.
Sweden
Almost half of Sweden’s electricity requirements are met by nuclear power, and the other half by hydro power. A very small proportion is produced by fossil fuels and biomass, and an increasing amount by wind power. Sweden has almost no domestic coal reserves. Coal dependency has fallen dramatically since the 1930s, when half of Sweden’s energy demand was covered by coal.
Poland
Poland’s electricity generation is almost completely based on coal (94%). Since there is limited potential for hydro power, no nuclear power plants, large hard coal and lignite reserves and very few gas and oil reserves, coal is expected to continue to play a significant role in Poland’s energy supply. The country conducts extensive hard coal and lignite mining (90 and 60 million tonnes, respectively, in 2007).
Finland
Electricity generation is based on 25% nuclear power, 15% coal, 15% hydro power, 11% gas, 7% peat and 11% biomass. In addition, Finland imports a relatively high percentage of its electricity from the Nordic region and Russia (14% in 2007). Finland has no domestic coal reserves, and in 2007, 7 million tonnes of hard coal were imported. Finland is building new nuclear power capacity.
Source: European Association for Coal and Lignite
