Cooperation between the Nordic countries in the energy area is one of several areas of policy cooperation under the Nordic Council of Ministers. Denmark will hold the chair of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2010.
There is a long tradition for electricity cooperation between the Nordic countries, which goes back to before the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers were founded. The Nordic electricity market is today considered the most developed and harmonised market in Europe.
Today, the purpose of Nordic energy cooperation is to help provide sustainable growth, security and wealth to people in the Nordic countries. Another purpose is to help market Nordic energy strongholds in Europe and beyond.
High priority is given to efforts which can also address the complex challenge of ensuring economic growth and security of supply, as well as dealing with climate problems.
Nordic energy cooperation must live up to political expectations and decisions regarding greater harmonisation of the Nordic electricity market with high security of supply. Integrating renewable energy into the markets for electricity and heating is an important step towards meeting the EU's targets for renewable energy in 2020. For Denmark, the target is that 30 percent of all energy is to come from renewable sources. Expanding the NOrdic electricity grid is important for continued liberalisation of the electricity market.
The Nordic energy systems have a solid foundation for meeting the challenges of the future. The Nordic countries will be working together to ensure a high level of support from the EU to expand the electricity and gas network in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, as well as support for low-carbon energy production plants in the Nordic countries.
With a view to strengthening and promoting the Nordic countries as a region characterised by knowledge, high technology, and competitiveness, the Nordic heads of state and government have launched a series of globalisation initiatives in which energy plays a pivotal role, including a top research initiative called the Nordic Energy Solutions, as well as an initiative focusing on the Nordic countries as a green technology laboratory for transport and energy. These initiatives contribute to profiling and marketing Nordic energy technologies and climate-friendly technologies and therefore support the cooperation's long tradition of technology research and development, efficient energy use, use of renewables, and a borderless electricity market.
The great dependency on oil in the transport sector poses a special challenge. The Nordic countries will be working together to promote increased use of energy-efficient electric cars, including ensuring the supply of renewable and low-carbon electricity.
The Nordic countries will be working together to promote climate-friendly and competitive energy systems in sparsely populated areas.
The Nordic countries consider cooperation with the countries in the Baltic Sea region through BASREC as an important contribution to the Nordic dimension of the EU.
Over the next four-year period (2010-2013), the Nordic countries will be working together to:
- increase harmonisation of the Nordic electricity market;
- increase the share of renewable energy in the energy systems;
- ensure efficient use of energy resources
- contribute to the development of innovative energy technologies
- increase the efficiency of, and green fuels for, the transport sector.