Nordic energy market under scrutiny

12.11.15 | News
The Nordic Energy Ministers have commissioned a strategic analysis of the future potential of the Nordic energy market. At the same time, the International Energy Agency heralds the Nordics as climate pioneers in the World Energy Outlook published on November 10. The ministers also discussed Nordic activities at COP21 and beyond.

The Nordic Council of Ministers on Energy met in Copenhagen on November 10 to discuss among others things the role of the Nordic energy market in the EU Energy Union. The Nordic market is the most integrated macroregional energy market in the world and the ministers also celebrated the centennial of the first power cable between two Nordic countries, uniting Denmark and Sweden in 1915.

Meanwhile, the World Energy Outlook from the IEA published on the day of the meeting heralded the Nordic countries as global frontrunners when it comes to decoupling economic growth and climate emissions.

EU Commissioner for the Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič met with the ministers and in the same vein he welcomed the Nordic contribution to the EU energy policy and stressed the need for more regional cooperation to achieve a fossil free economy.

Danish Minister for Energy, Utilities and Climate, Lars Christian Lilleholt, added that the Nordic countries are proud of their role in the global climate effort.

- We can show the world an example of what can be achieved through regional cooperation instead of national isolation. Many look to the Nordic countries as a blue print for Europe in terms of a green energy supply and while the first Nordic power cables were laid during WW1, now we fight global warming and look towards the green transition, Lilleholt said at the ministerial meeting.

The strategic analysis of the Nordic energy market will be carried out under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers and a status will be presented at the next meeting of the energy ministers in Autumn 2016.

Energy focus at COP21

The success of the Nordics in decoupling economic growth and climate emissions is in part attributed to the well-functioning and highly integrated Nordic energy market.

Dealing with this amongst other things, the IEA along with Nordic Energy Research (NER) will publish a new edition of the Nordic Energy Technology Perspectives in 2016, looking towards a carbon neutral Nordic region with a sustainable energy production

In the same vein, the Energy Ministers also discussed the upcoming UN climate summit in Paris, COP21, where the role of energy in reaching the goals of lowering climate emissions will be in focus.

The Nordic countries will present a number of green solutions from a Nordic perspective at their joint pavilion under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers. A number of Nordic Energy and Environment ministers will also speak at an IEA/NER event looking at lessons learned by the Nordic decoupling pioneers.

For more information on Nordic activities as COP21 see www.norden.org/cop21