Icelanders Lead The World In Per Capita Electricity Use

Heavy industry has put Iceland in first place in the world when it comes to per capita consumption of electricity.

RÚV reports that the electricity utility company Landsnet has conducted a study on current and projected levels of power consumption in Iceland, with predictions extending to 2050. According to their forecasts, priority electricity use will increase by 100% by the end of this period.

In all, heavy industry accounted for 21% of energy consumption last year, and will raise to 31% by the end of the forecast period. In addition, electricity use in industries outside of heavy industry rose by 24% from 2009 to 2014.

At the same time, personal consumption has actually decreased from its 4.9 megawatt hour per household peak in 2009. Last year, the household average was measured to be at 4.5 megawatt hours. Electricity efficient lightbulbs had the greatest impact, and while the purchase of electric appliances has increased, so has the efficiency of these appliances. It is predicted that household energy consumption will continue to decrease to 4 megawatt hours, but will not get lower than this.

About 75.5% of Iceland’s electricity comes from hydropower, with another 24.5% coming from geothermal sources.