Icelandic homes used on average 4.5 MWh of electricity in 2014, compared to 4.9 MW in 2009, when average electricity use peaked. The reduction in electricity use over these five years is 8.2%. A new report on electricity demand until 2050 projects this figure will drop by more an additional 10% in coming years as average electricity consumption will drop to an average 4 MWh.
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The primary reason for falling electricity consumption by Icelandic homes are more energy efficient appliances, the report argues, as well as more energy efficient lightbulbs.
Despite this shrinking home use of electricity, per capita consumption of electricity is still the highest in the world in Iceland. The average consumption in Iceland was ca 37 MWh per capita in 2007, compared to ca 30 MWh per capita in Norway, where it was second highest. These figures have not changed much since then, the report argues. Electricity intensive industries, like aluminium smelters, are the principal reason. Another large consumer of electricity is the production of fishmeal. Electricity consumption of fishmeal factories, which use large amounts of energy to dry fish and fish waste to create fishmeal, grew by 24% between 2009 and 2014.
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Other uses of electricity are projected to rise dramatically in future years as more cars will be powered by electricity. Sverrir Jan Norðfjörð, head of research and development for Landsnet, the utility which manages the Icelandic high voltage grid, told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that the utility expects that by 2015 most cars will be electric cars.
Icelandic homes used on average 4.5 MWh of electricity in 2014, compared to 4.9 MW in 2009, when average electricity use peaked. The reduction in electricity use over these five years is 8.2%. A new report on electricity demand until 2050 projects this figure will drop by more an additional 10% in coming years as average electricity consumption will drop to an average 4 MWh.
Read more: Wind powered bus stop has been unveiled by Harpan concert hall
The primary reason for falling electricity consumption by Icelandic homes are more energy efficient appliances, the report argues, as well as more energy efficient lightbulbs.
Despite this shrinking home use of electricity, per capita consumption of electricity is still the highest in the world in Iceland. The average consumption in Iceland was ca 37 MWh per capita in 2007, compared to ca 30 MWh per capita in Norway, where it was second highest. These figures have not changed much since then, the report argues. Electricity intensive industries, like aluminium smelters, are the principal reason. Another large consumer of electricity is the production of fishmeal. Electricity consumption of fishmeal factories, which use large amounts of energy to dry fish and fish waste to create fishmeal, grew by 24% between 2009 and 2014.
Read more: Iceland is the second fastest growing market for electric cars in the world
Other uses of electricity are projected to rise dramatically in future years as more cars will be powered by electricity. Sverrir Jan Norðfjörð, head of research and development for Landsnet, the utility which manages the Icelandic high voltage grid, told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that the utility expects that by 2015 most cars will be electric cars.
