Greenland achieved an impressive clean electricity share in 2022: about 87% of its electricity came from low-carbon hydropower, while fossil fuels supplied the remaining 13%. This gives Greenland a strong foundation for further electrification. The next challenge is to extend this progress to transport, heating and industry, which will require much more electricity. Expanding clean electricity supply can help replace fossil fuel use in these sectors and reduce climate-changing emissions and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Greenland?

Electricity consumption in Greenland is growing, with the 2022 figures setting a new per-person record. Consumption reached about 9,650 kWh per person, exceeding the previous record of roughly 9,280 kWh in 2020 by around 370 kWh, or 4%. Low-carbon electricity generation also reached a new high of about 8,400 kWh per person—roughly 720 kWh, or 9%, above its previous record in 2021. These gains are encouraging: clean electricity generation is advancing alongside consumption, providing a stronger foundation for future demand from electrification and potentially AI-related activity.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Greenland can build on its hydropower foundation by expanding suitable projects and upgrading existing facilities. Solar electricity could complement hydropower, particularly during Greenland’s long summer days, with storage and stronger electricity networks helping make additional clean generation useful across communities. Greenland should also consider whether nuclear electricity, including smaller-scale designs, could contribute to its long-term supply. Planning these options around local demand and infrastructure would support a growing, increasingly electrified economy.

History

The supplied history shows hydropower expanding in two notable steps, with otherwise little recorded annual change at the data’s stated precision. From 2001 through 2008, each listed year showed no change, followed by an increase of 0.1 TWh in 2009. Another increase of 0.1 TWh followed in 2011, after no recorded change in 2010. The listed years from 2013 through 2020, and 2022, again showed no change at this precision. These figures suggest that Greenland’s clean electricity development has advanced through occasional additions rather than steady annual expansion, reinforcing the importance of further investment to meet growing electricity needs.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade