Sanity is returning to Sweden.

Changing the target to “100% fossil-free” electricity, from “100% renewable” is key to the government’s plan to meet an expected doubling of electricity demand to around 300 TwH by 2040 and reach net zero emissions by 2045.

“This creates the conditions for nuclear power,” Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson said in parliament. “We need more electricity production, we need clean electricity and we need a stable energy system.”

Sweden’s parties agreed a deal in 2016 that new reactors could be built at existing sites. However, without subsidies, it has been seen as too expensive. The new right-of-centre coalition says new reactors are essential to power the shift to a fossil-free economy and has promised generous loan guarantees.

Sweden hasn’t entirely dumped their renewable energy sources and will keep some wind and solar farms. On the whole, this is a great start and better than the previous government’s goal to (in theory) power Sweden using 100 renewables as Germany’s example demonstrates.

PHOTO CREDIT: Pixabay