This study sets out to analyse how Energy Communities are currently implemented in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark, and furthermore looks into similar models in three other European countries. In relation to Energy Communities, Nordic Energy Research (NER) also wants to investigate questions linked to market access, grid ownership and operation, and tariffication. The overall objective of the study is to support the Nordic authorities in their implementation of the requirements of the Electricity Directive (Article 16), to support the exchange of views on lessons learned and to profit from the common experiences in the Nordic and European countries. 

This report, written by AFRY for the Nordic Council of Ministers, focuses on the potential for Distribution System Operators (DSOs) in the Nordic countries to procure flexibility through market mechanisms. The report assesses the current and future potential of especially demand-side flexibility to be a useful resource to DSOs, and presents alternatives for flexibility products and market designs. Through interviews, literature research, and a survey of major Nordic DSOs, the report explores these topics and discusses how DSOs and regulators can make use of the ongoing process of learning and innovation.

This report identifies clean energy technologies (CETs) and actions for Baltic-Nordic research co-operation to decarbonise the energy systems of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, from now to 2030, 2050 and beyond.

Six CET categories are needed: integrated power and energy systems; zero emission power generation technologies; low emission transport systems; industrial energy systems; urban and built environments; and cross-cutting technologies. Possible actions include: Strengthening existing collaboration; Initiating new collaboration; Exploratory actions.

A collaboration roadmap highlights key areas and actions for joint Baltic-Nordic energy research and innovation: Development of the power system; The role of hydrogen; Development of sustainable urban areas; Decarbonisation of industry; Advanced utilisation of biomass; System integration of CCS/CCU/BECCS; Electrification of transport.

This report describes the Nordic approaches to implementing the EU's emergency intervention measures aimed at tackling the energy crisis and high energy prices during the winter of 2022/2023. Simultaneously, readers are presented with a theoretical macroeconomic analysis of the implications resulting from these interventions.

In the report  the latest savings from ecodesign and energy labelling policies in the Nordic countries are provided. This project aimed to enhance the Nordcrawl tool by providing updated calculations of energy savings from ecodesign and energy-labelling policies in the Nordic countries. The study employs two complementary methodologies – a top-down approach and a bottom-up approach – implemented on the Nordcrawl online platform. 

How to shift to renewable energy systems in sparsely populated areas? This guide provides tools for initiative takers and planners, to explore the potential in local resources and provide sustainable electricity and heating for the community. The guide includes a step-by-step guide through the project development process and presents advantages and challenges of optional technologies and energy systems, including heating and electricity from wind, sun, sea and fresh water, biomass and the ground. The focus of this guide is on implementation of renewable energy solutions in sparsely populated areas, based upon proven technologies that are available in the market, and to design reliable and affordable energy systems. Energy storage and smart energy management get special attention. Facts and numbers from a pilot project in Leirvik at the Faroe Islands illustrates how to use this guide.

The Nordic region is jointly in an excellent position to deploy innovative technologies due to ambitious energy and climate policy goals, as well as extensive research programs. This is illustrated by the numerous activities taking place and the vast industrial interest in these emerging solutions. In fact, the Nordic governments are working closely with private actors to boost the introduction of low-carbon solution and the inclusive process undertaken by many Nordic countries also ensures prudent policies.

This report has mapped the strengths of the Nordic countries and has also highlighted the promising synergies between their efforts. Building on this identification, the report concludes with recommendations and remarks on national, Nordic and international level – which have the potential to further unlock large-scale deployment of hydrogen, electrofuels, CCUS in the Nordic region.

This project explores the energy systems and their development towards 2035 in the West Nordic areas and the Arctic. The objective of the project was to contribute to a knowledge base that can be shared and used in developing a sustainable and competitive energy systems that fulfil the goals and obligations for 2035 on climate, emissions and renewable shares. “Energy systems” in this case covers the potential for different renewable energy resources, infrastructure, the demand for energy in different sectors, and relevant policies.

Along with the scenario analysis, five case studies have been developed: land transport; a small hybrid energy system in Igaliku, Greenland; electrification of fishing vessels; tourism; and the future energy system in Svalbard.

This project explores the energy systems and their development towards 2035 in the West Nordic areas and the Arctic. The objective of the project was to contribute to a knowledge base that can be shared and used in developing a sustainable and competitive energy systems that fulfil the goals and obligations for 2035 on climate, emissions and renewable shares. “Energy systems” in this case covers the potential for different renewable energy resources, infrastructure, the demand for energy in different sectors, and relevant policies.Along with the scenario analysis, five case studies have been developed: land transport; a small hybrid energy system in Igaliku, Greenland; electrification of fishing vessels; tourism; and the future energy system in Svalbard.

This report explores which routes in the Nordic Region will be suitable for establishing electric aviation according to two factors: energy demands of airports and regional power adequacy. The report is part of the Nordregio project Electric aviation and the effects on the Nordic Regions and substantially builds on the project’s Accessibility study.

The study compares the different ways independent regulators have been regulated in some European countries. The main objective is to learn from their experiences and apply those lessons to the Nordics, that are in the process of drafting their own regulation. The whole regulation is addressed, but the focus is on the questions concerning compensation mechanisms.

In 2018, the report Baltic Energy Technology Scenarios showed that heat pumps and electric boilers are a very promising option in buildings and in district heat production in a future energy system. In this new report on heat pump potential in the Baltic states, data on heat- and cooling sources, small and large-scale heat pump- and electric boiler potential, as well as socio-economic costs and benefits, has been gathered and examined.

This report supports that the coupling of the common Baltic electricity market to local district heating via power-to-heat, offers large comparative advantages with respect to flexibility of source, potential synergies and economic considerations. The report also concludes that there is considerable potential and benefits of using heat pumps and electric boilers in the Baltic region, which holds a lot of promise for curbing climate-warming emissions.

The study assesses to what extent the production and use of advanced sustainable jet fuel may contribute to GHG reduction and mitigation, and identifies the commercial potential for initiating and scaling up advanced sustainable jet fuel production at a Nordic level. The report explores as well on how to most efficiently use the available Nordic know-how, feedstock and production facilities. The report draws on the latest available reports and statistics, as well as interviews with stakeholders and experts across the Nordic countries, concludes on identifying the most matured technologies, the Nordic opportunities and challenges, and ideas to mitigate the barriers within the Nordic private and public sectors.

In 2019, the Nordic countries issued a common declaration to make the region carbon neutral. The declaration commits the countries to assess scenarios for how to achieve carbon neutrality, including the implications such scenarios would entail for various sectors. The declaration emphasised the necessity and benefit of collaborative action and invited the Nordic Council of Ministers to prepare a proposal on how to ensure that the Nordic region to fulfil their part of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Three Nordic Clean Energy Scenarios were developed to support this work. These scenarios identified five solution tracks that can deliver carbon neutrality by 2050: direct electrification; PtX; bioenergy; CCS technologies; and behavioural change. More importantly, over the next decade, the rate of necessary emission reductions needs to happen at a pace five times faster than currently achieved.

Globally, aviation accounts for a modest share of World total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from today’s energy use. However, air transport has been rapidly increasing and many other sectors are expected to reduce their emissions. Hence, aviation’s share of global emissions can be foreseen to rise and will constitute a significant part of the problem unless strong counteracting initiatives are taken. Efforts regarding aviation have so far been limited, although despite significant technological improvements of aircraft energy efficiency over the past decades. The Nordic countries all have high ambitions to become more environmentally sustainable. The aim of this report is to examine challenges and opportunities for increased Nordic cooperation with regards to increasing sustainability of aviation and, based on evaluation of alternative options, propose common policy measures.

This study recommends actions that public authorities and industry may take, to accommodate biodiversity and engage stakeholders in further Nordic offshore wind farm development. 

The following recommendations are based on a review of literature, five case studies, and interviews with Nordic and international stakeholders representing offshore wind operators, manufacturers, regulators, scientific institutions, and NGOs:

1. Leverage existing frameworks for collaboration across Nordic and neighbouring countries for data collection and cumulative impact assessments.

2. Initiate Nordic collaboration for marine spatial planning at sea basin wide scales to ensure minimal conflict with environmental and other sea users’ interests.

3. Explore potentials for experience transfer on practices for stakeholder engagement in wind energy development, across borders and industries in the Nordics.

The energy transition needs to be environmentally and socially viable. Renewables must be deployed without displacing vital societal interests, and in balance with nature, through active measures to develop biodiversity. These ambitions are integral to the Nordic vision of becoming the most integrated and sustainable region in the world.

The North and Baltic Seas are instrumental to increasing Europe’s offshore wind capacity, to reach climate neutrality by 2050. This creates challenges and opportunities for marine spatial planning. Successful coexistence is key to solving the energy and nature crises – governments must act to ensure this.

Based on workshops with a range of stakeholders, this report recommends instruments to facilitate co-existence and nature inclusive design in Nordic offshore wind farms, to assist regulators in issuing requirements for licensing and choice of locations.

The organisation for the Nordic energy regulators, NordREG, has ordered this study to explore status of demand side flexibility among Nordic distribution system operators (DSOs). Demand side response is a question of mobilising potential flexibility in how and when end users choose to use energy, and how such flexibility can provide value to the network. Network value can be reduced or deferred investments, better system reliability or other system cost reductions. This report addresses concepts for utilising demand response and related regulatory issues. The report also includes an interview study among selected DSOs in the Nordic countries. This addresses current status, how flexibility can be a value for their business, what they see as barriers and planned activities relating to demand response.

There are many successfull initiatives to utilise distributed flexiblity connected to the distribution grid in the Nordics. Given a future that sees growing electrification of society and a growing share of intermittent renewables, local flexilibty is an important tool to balance this new world. This report, compiled by the ad hoc working group flexiblity under the Nordic Electricity Markets Forum, presents key examples and extracts the most important lessons from them, that we can learn in the Nordics (and Europe). We hope that we can encourage more distribution operators to try using local flexibility to solve their challenges.

The Nordic region has a vision to become the most sustainable and integrated region in the world. Secure, affordable and clean energy is fundamental to realising this. Yet, in view of recent unprecedented energy prices and geopolitical risk, the concept of energy poverty has gained a great deal of attention. The Nordic countries have offered varying levels of support to households most affected by the high electricity prices. This report critically examines energy poverty in the Nordics, offering insights into challenges related to energy access and recommending strategies for improvement. In the Nordics it is important to address and reduce energy poverty to make the green transition more inclusive and socially sustainable. 

The Evaluation of Nordic Electricity Retail Markets analyses their commonalities while also highlighting their differencet advantages and disadvantages. The retail markets in the Nordics are generally competitive and well-run. There is still need for improvement, though, as consumers lack confidence in the industry and are dissatisfied with their suppliers. Here, the study offers specific suggestions: Apart from the overall recommendation to enhance the enforcement of current regulations, you can also learn from your Nordic counterparts: from industry-drafted standard contracts in Norway to a publicly accessible Swedish complaints list. In Finland energy efficiency has increased because of a public awareness campaign, and all the Nordic nations have succeeded in introducing some form of assistance for end users throughout the energy crisis.

Demand side flexibility is the ability of power consumers to reduce their demand in periods of peak load, possibly shifting demand to other periods. The organisation for the Nordic energy regulators, NordREG, has ordered this study to explore demand side flexibility in a Nordic perspective. The study contains a literature survey of demand side flexibility and assess the potential for, and benefit of demand side flexibility. Based on the survey, the report highlights implementation barriers and possible contributions from to reducing these barriers. Existing barriers are e.g lack of ICT, automation services, smart meters and real-time prices. The greatest potential for demand side flexibility in the Nordics is within residential space heating. The value of demand side flexibility is uncertain, but may be 1–2 billion SEK per year.

How to achieve a socially sustainable transition towards a green energy system is increasingly emphasised, as new technologies and solutions for the energy of tomorrow constantly develop. The shift to renewables will lead to major changes in our energy systems and affect citizens in different ways. One element of social sustainability is gender equality, addressing the energy sector’s need to gather all talents to stimulate innovation and ensure inclusion. Regarded as one of the least gender diverse sectors, also in the Nordic countries, there is still more to be done to ensure a sustainable energy transition. The report Gender equality in the Nordic energy sector provides an overall picture of the status of gender equality in the Nordic energy sector. The purpose is to highlight this topic and stimulate further discussions for a positive impact on the sector.