An Energy System in Balance
What is an energy system? How is it structured, and what does Sweden’s energy system actually look like?
An energy system is a network of infrastructure and processes that enables the production, transmission and use of energy within a society.
The energy system in three parts
The Swedish energy system can be divided into supply, transformation, and consumption of energy. The energy system consists of supplied energy in the form of primary energy that is converted and transferred to the final energy users.
The energy system is always in balance
The energy system is always in balance. This means energy input is always equal to the energy use, including losses. Energy losses in the system can come from conversion and transmission, or that energy commodities are used for other purposes. The difference between supply and use in the statistics is a statistical difference arising from uncertainties when the flows of energy are measured.
The energy balance of Sweden in 2022
The flow in the energy system
Energy flows within the Swedish energy system are presented in the Sankey diagram.
An example of a flow in the diagram is:
- Supply of energy from wind, water and sun to the energy system.
- The energy is converted into electricity.
- The electricity is used in industry, transport, and the residential and service sector.
A fraction of the electricity is exported to other countries.
