As in many northern European countries in 1996, winds were poor in Sweden last year, reaching only 84% of a normal year's energy content, reported Kenneth Averstad from state utility Vattenfall at Vind 97. Nonetheless, the number of wind turbines in Sweden increased from 220 to 303 and the installed capacity from 67 MW to 105 MW, an increase of 57%. The technical availability of the turbines was 97.7%.
According to Vision 2050 from Elforsk, the research department of the Swedish utilities and power companies, wind power demand in the year 2050 will be 6.6% of total electricity production which, at today's rate of consumption, will be some 150 TWh a year. Elforsk anticipates that energy saving measures will keep consumption in Sweden level. While Elforsk is supporting the development and evaluation of a new small turbine from Pitch Wind -- with a direct driven generator with permanent magnets -- it has no plans directly connected with wind energy., says the department's Ulf Arvidsson.
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