Renewable Energy Consumption: Iceland

Analysis# Iceland Renewable Energy Consumption Iceland derived 82.4% of its total energy from renewable sources in 2021, nearly matching its all-time peak of 82.9% in 2020. This represents a dramatic 50.6 percentage point increase since 1990, when renewable consumption stood at just 31.8%. The country has transformed from a modest renewable energy user to a global leader, rising from a low of 52.3% in 1996 to consistently high levels over the past decade. The most significant growth occurred between 1996 and 2012, when renewable consumption jumped from 52.3% to 77.7%—a 25.4 point surge driven primarily by hydroelectric and geothermal expansion. Since 2012, the trend has stabilized at elevated levels, fluctuating between 76.8% and 82.9%. The slight decline from 2020's peak to 82.4% in 2021 reflects normal annual variation rather than a reversal, with Iceland maintaining its position among the world's highest renewable energy consumers.