Environmental Benefits from Export of Electricity from Non-fossil Sources in Scandinavia

Electricity generation from non-fossil sources covers 80-85% of the total electricity demand in the Nordic countries. Most of this is hydro power in Norway and Sweden, which is subject to substantial variations from year to year. Although traditional electricity planning has been based on an idea of national autarky, there has been a significant trade between the Nordic countries, mainly export of hydro and nuclear based electricity from Norway and Sweden to Finland and Denmark, and indirectly to Germany. Price differences and the development towards a more liberalized market lead to investment in more transmission capacity and a larger potential for export that will replace fossil fuels and thus emissions of S0₂, NO_x, C0₂ and other pollutants.