THE ENERGY CONSUMPTION OF GREENLAND

 

As shown in Figure 1, the bulk of the energy consumption originates from imported diesel, kerosene and petrol (fossil fuels). Gas oil is the most widely used fuel and used to produce heat and electricity, for heating in households, institutions, and in businesses as well as in the industry, for fishing and leisure vessels and for land transport.

 

Kerosene is used for heating in households. Aviation kerosene is used as propellant for aircraft. The consumption of petroleum products has declined in recent years.

 

Gasoline is used as a propellant in fishing and leisure vessels and for land transport. The consumption of petrol has risen steadily since 1996.

 

Figure 1

The Consumption of Energy

Source: Statistics Greenland

 

Renewable Energy

Hydropower is the most important source of renewable energy and it also holds the largest energy potential of the country. The first hydroelectric plant of the country was inaugurated in Buksefjord at Nuuk in 1993. The consumption of renewable energy has generally risen since 1992. Since 1994, the consumption of fossil fuels has increased more than the production of renewable energy.

 

Other renewable energy sources constitute a smaller share of the total energy consumption but may be of importance at isolated locations. This is the case with mini wind turbines, solar energy and burning of fish oil. No statistics are compiled on these sources of energy.

 

Dependence on Fossil Fuels

For some years the energy planning has been focused on reducing the dependence on fossil fuels. The use of renewable energy makes Greenland less dependent on imported fossil fuels and hence less vulnerable to fluctuating oil prices on international markets and supply failure.

In 1990, Greenland was 100 per cent dependent on imported fossil fuels. By the introduction of waste incineration in the early 1990’s, the dependence on oil decreased to 99 per cent. At the inauguration of hydroelectric power in Buksefjord in 1994, the dependence on oil was reduced to 91 per cent.

 

The total imports of liquid fuels are shown in Table 7.

 

Emissions of Carbon Dioxide

The air and the environment are exposed to a significant man-made influence through the burning of fossil fuels which emits greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane and CFCs.

The emissions of carbon dioxide of Greenland vary over the years, primarily due to increases or decreases in the consumption of gas oil, transport, and direct heating.

 

There has been a relative decline in carbon dioxide emissions from the production by a partial replacement of oil with energy from hydropower and waste incineration.

 

Figure 2 displays the development in carbon dioxide emissions from energy use. The figures on the emissions of carbon dioxide are theoretically calculated based on the final national energy consumption and the theoretical emission factors as reported by the Danish Energy Agency.

 

Figure 2

Emission of Carbon Dioxide From Energy Consumption

Source: Statistics Greenland

 

Greenland is not a party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992) and the Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (1998), the goal being to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

 

Inatsisartut asked Denmark to ratify the Kyoto Protocol without reservation for Greenland while a territorial reservation for the Faroe Islands was made according to the wish of the Faroese parliament. In connection with the Danish ratification, Greenland and Denmark concluded a framework agreement to ratify the Kyoto Protocol in September 2001. According to this agreement, Greenland must actively seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared with 1990 levels. In addition, Greenland must provide assistance so that annual calculations of greenhouse gases can be sent to the UN Climate Secretariat.

 

Links

Links to the articles about UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol:

 

• UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992)
• The Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
• Reports to the UN Climate Secretariat

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the main page for the UN Climate Secretariat

• Annual reports on the emission of greenhouse gasses are published on the website of the UN. These reports are called National Inventory Submissions, alternatively GHG submissions. The latest report is from April 2009.
• Every four years a "National Communication" is issued, reporting on the policies of the countries and their initiatives to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. These reports are also published on the UN website.

National Communication 4 (NC4) from 2005 is available at the website now while National Communication 5 (NC5) is still being reviewed before final publication.

• Communication 4 (2005)

 

The articles can be found at www.unfccc.int.

 

The UN Climate Change Conference COP15: www.cop15.dk.

 

The website of the Ministry of Climate and Energy: www.kemin.dk.

 

EU website: www.europa.eu.

 

Climate Change in Greenland: www.climategreenland.gl.

 

The National Environmental Research Institute of Denmark particular focus on Greenland: www.dmu.dk.

 

The Meteorological Institute of Denmark: www.dmi.dk.