Faroe Islands energy mix & electricity
Electricity generation in the Faroe Islands reached 490 GWh in 2023. Oil dominates the mix with 53.1%, followed by hydropower at 26.5% and wind power at 18.4%.
The power system is very small (under 1 TWh a year), so it is not included in share-based world rankings. A single plant can change its mix dramatically from one year to the next.
Electricity generation by source in 2023
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil | 0.26 | 53.1% | −9 |
| Hydro | 0.13 | 26.5% | −4.5 |
| Wind | 0.09 | 18.4% | +11.5 |
| Bioenergy | 0.01 | 2% | +2 |
| Total | 0.49 | 100% |
Faroe Islands: electricity in context
Electricity generation in the Faroe Islands reached 490 GWh in 2023. That puts it in the same league as Burundi. Oil dominates the mix with 53.1%, followed by hydropower at 26.5% and wind power at 18.4%.
The renewable share stood at 46.9%. That is 13 points above the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for Europe (41.6%). The carbon intensity of electricity is 347 g CO₂e/kWh; the global average is 458 g/kWh. That makes the grid somewhat cleaner than the world average.
Since 2013, oil has added the most generation in absolute terms (+80 GWh), yet its share of the mix fell by 9 percentage points because other sources grew even faster. In share terms the biggest gainer was wind power (up 11.5 percentage points). The net effect: renewables gained 9 percentage points of share since 2013. Total generation grew by 200 GWh over the same period. Carbon intensity dropped from 414 to 347 g/kWh, a 16% cut.
Coal has essentially never been burned for electricity here: its share has stayed below 1% throughout the record.
Solar (0%) and wind (18.4%) now add up to 18.4% of generation; the global figure is 17.3%. Wind adds 1,644 kWh per person.
Generation per person is 8,952 kWh a year, 2.3× the world average of 3,860 kWh. The Faroe Islands does not trade electricity with other countries: the grid is not interconnected with any neighbour.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Faroe Islands against the world and Europe averages.
Solar & wind farms: Faroe Islands
3 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 0 MW of solar and 37 MW of wind operating, plus 0 MW under construction or planned.
See them on the mapLargest solar & wind farms: Faroe Islands →
How does Faroe Islands compare?
Faroe Islands next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faroe Islands | 46.9% | 46.9% | 53.1% | 347 | 8,952 | 0.5 | — | |
| Iceland | 100% | 100% | 0% | 28 | 48,424 | 19.1 | Compare | |
| Norway | 99% | 99% | 1% | 28 | 28,598 | 161 | Compare | |
| United Kingdom | 52% | 64.4% | 35.6% | 217 | 4,203 | 292 | Compare | |
| Ireland | 48.1% | 48.1% | 51.9% | 257 | 5,831 | 31 | Compare | |
| Sweden | 71.2% | 98.8% | 1.2% | 35 | 16,019 | 171 | Compare | |
| Denmark | 91.2% | 91.2% | 8.8% | 114 | 5,548 | 33.3 | Compare | |
| Europe average | 41.6% | 62% | 38% | 271 | 6,203 | 4,626 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in the Faroe Islands is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in the Faroe Islands?
How clean is the electricity in the Faroe Islands?
How much electricity does the Faroe Islands use per person?
More countries in Europe
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2023. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.