Windmills and sheep in Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands Renewable Energy

By Verified Expert

Wondering if the Faroe Islands have any renewable energy? Looking for a place where pristine nature meets sustainability? Want to experience how a remote archipelago produces clean energy while preserving its wild beauty? Read on to discover how the Faroe Islands’ green energy transformation adds to any trip to the island group.



Remotely located halfway between Norway and Iceland, the wild Faroe Islands are an isolated island group. Keeping the islands running gets greener day by day thanks to a growing clean energy production locally.

Fossá Waterfall
Mighty Fossá Waterfall running into the Sundini Strait. Photo by Tim Middeljans also known as @hikingmadman on Instagram.

When you visit the Faroe Islands, you step into a world of dramatic landscapes and pristine nature. While you do so, you concurrently start exploring one of the world’s most ambitious green energy transformations.

Famous for their mountainous landscapes and many sheep, the remote islands have embraced renewable energy. The goal is to be self-sufficient with renewable energy by 2030. In recent year, more than half of the land-based energy production has been renewable.

  • 2024: 56,6% clean energy
  • 2023: 50,3% clean energy
  • 2022: 52% clean energy

The local power company Sev has set an inspiring goal: to power the entire archipelago on land with 100% renewable energy. For travellers, this means that every grass-roofed house or hotel you stay in, and every traditional meal you enjoy is increasingly powered by the very forces of nature that make these islands so captivating.

Weather in the Faroe Islands

Female traveller in Faroe Islands
The fresh air in fjords and on mountains will set your wanderlust free.

Weather in the Faroe Islands can be challenging but the very same elements that bring about these challenges are taken into an advantage. The islands harness those same winds that create the islands’ moody atmosphere through wind turbines dotting wind-beaten areas. Meanwhile, the abundant rainfall and steep terrain provide perfect conditions for hydropower, which has been a cornerstone of the islands’ energy production for decades.

When you hike along the islands’ trails, you might spot some of these renewable energy sources in action. These are the most important clean energy sources in the archipelago:

  • Hydropower plants nestled in valleys, using the islands’ plentiful rainfall
  • Wind turbines facing the wind while turning it into clean electricity

For environmentally conscious travellers, knowing that islands leverage both hydropower and wind will make a green travel experience even more so. With new windmills in the pipeline and a tidal energy project in the Faroe Islands the carbon footprint is to de reduced even more.

Renewable Energy to Power your Faroe Islands Experience

Vestmanna lake
This lake in the village Vestmanna produces hydropower into the archipelago’s grid. More than half of the energy production in the Faroe Islands comes from renewable energy

Every time you charge your camera to capture those perfect landscape shots or warm up in a local café after a day of hiking, you are likely using energy generated from renewable sources. Hence, you will leave less carbon footprint than probably expected from an isolated energy unit in the swells of the North Atlantic Ocean.

The islands’ power company, Sev, has become a pioneer in showing how remote communities can transition to green energy. Their innovative approach includes:

  • Smart grid technology to balance power supply across the islands
  • Energy storage solutions to maintain stable power despite variable weather
  • Integration of multiple renewable sources to ensure reliable power supply

What makes the energy transition particularly remarkable is how it complements the islands’ tourism appeal. The same natural elements that draw visitors – the powerful winds, abundant rainfall, and dramatic topography – are being harnessed to power the islands sustainably. This creates a unique travel experience where visitors can witness a living laboratory of renewable energy while enjoying unspoiled natural beauty.

Suðuroy Island Powered by Renewable Energy

Beinisvørð cliff view
The awe-inspiring view from Beinisvørð Promontory on Suðuroy Island. Photo by Vanessa Martin known as @leblogcashpistache on Instagram.

For travellers interested in sustainable tourism, make sure to visit Suðuroy Island. The southernmost island has embraced green technology to such an extent that the island at times is fully powered by renewable energy.

Thanks to an innovative setup with a battery storage system and a synchronous condenser that manages power from local renewable sources, families and businesses on Suðuroy Island run on carbon-free electricity more than half of the year. The idea for the power company Sev is to scale this up to the entire archipelago making all islands run on 100% renewable energy. This will serve as an inspiration for other countries in their aim for a carbon-free future.

Experience Faroe Islands and its Renewable Energy

Audi Q6 e-tron and windmills
The luxury car brand Audi invited more than 60 media outlets form around the world to the Faroe Islands. This was all done in order to test drive the fully electric e-tron Q6. The lush green islands combined with the ever more green energy production made the car manufacturer set up this major event in the archipelago. (Copyright: AUDI AG).

While in the Faroe Islands, you can do things to get a better understanding of the green transition taking place in the island group. Take guided tours where some of them will get you close to renewable energy solutions. Local guides are happy to tell you how life in the Faroe Islands is being preserved while embracing sustainable technologies.

The Faroe Islands prove that even in the most remote corners of the world, a green future is possible. And you can even do so without compromising natural beauty or cultural heritage. For travellers, this means experiencing both a travel destination and while doing so you participate in an energy transformation empowering sustainable tourism.

Your visit to the Faroe Islands will include both stunning landscapes and a renewable energy transition. These things go hand in hand and are powered by the very forces of nature that make these islands so special. Browse the widest selection of adventure tours in the Faroe Islands now. These experiences and more will get you into the heart of this off-the-beaten-patch travel destination.

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