What country is 100% renewable?
2 Answers
As of 2024, no country is 100% renewable in the sense of meeting all its energy needs exclusively from renewable sources. However, there are countries that have made significant strides toward this goal. Here are a few notable examples:
1. **Iceland**: Iceland is one of the closest to being fully renewable. It generates about 100% of its electricity from renewable sources, primarily geothermal and hydropower. The country also uses renewable energy for heating and has made progress toward using renewable energy in transportation, though fossil fuels are still used for some transportation and industrial purposes.
2. **Norway**: Norway generates nearly all of its electricity from hydropower, making its electricity sector almost entirely renewable. However, like Iceland, Norway still relies on fossil fuels for other sectors, including transportation.
3. **Bhutan**: Bhutan is often cited as a leader in renewable energy, as it produces more electricity from hydropower than it consumes, exporting the surplus to neighboring countries. The country has a carbon-negative status, meaning it absorbs more CO2 through its forests and hydropower projects than it emits.
4. **Costa Rica**: Costa Rica is known for its impressive use of renewable energy. It frequently runs on 100% renewable electricity for extended periods, using a mix of hydro, wind, solar, and biomass. However, it still relies on fossil fuels for transportation and some industrial processes.
These countries demonstrate that it is possible to rely heavily on renewable energy sources, though achieving 100% renewable energy across all sectors remains a challenge.
1. **Iceland**: Iceland is one of the closest to being fully renewable. It generates about 100% of its electricity from renewable sources, primarily geothermal and hydropower. The country also uses renewable energy for heating and has made progress toward using renewable energy in transportation, though fossil fuels are still used for some transportation and industrial purposes.
2. **Norway**: Norway generates nearly all of its electricity from hydropower, making its electricity sector almost entirely renewable. However, like Iceland, Norway still relies on fossil fuels for other sectors, including transportation.
3. **Bhutan**: Bhutan is often cited as a leader in renewable energy, as it produces more electricity from hydropower than it consumes, exporting the surplus to neighboring countries. The country has a carbon-negative status, meaning it absorbs more CO2 through its forests and hydropower projects than it emits.
4. **Costa Rica**: Costa Rica is known for its impressive use of renewable energy. It frequently runs on 100% renewable electricity for extended periods, using a mix of hydro, wind, solar, and biomass. However, it still relies on fossil fuels for transportation and some industrial processes.
These countries demonstrate that it is possible to rely heavily on renewable energy sources, though achieving 100% renewable energy across all sectors remains a challenge.
As of now, Iceland is the country that comes closest to being 100% renewable. The country generates nearly all of its electricity from renewable sources, primarily hydroelectric power (about 73%) and geothermal energy (about 27%). Iceland's unique geographical location and volcanic activity provide abundant geothermal resources, while its numerous rivers are ideal for hydroelectric power.
While no country is entirely 100% renewable in all aspects (including heating and transportation), Iceland's electricity generation is a notable example of near-complete reliance on renewable energy. Other countries like Bhutan and Nepal also have high proportions of renewable energy but may still use some non-renewable sources.
While no country is entirely 100% renewable in all aspects (including heating and transportation), Iceland's electricity generation is a notable example of near-complete reliance on renewable energy. Other countries like Bhutan and Nepal also have high proportions of renewable energy but may still use some non-renewable sources.