Energy

Greenland is located in the Northern Polar region. The winters are cold and the summers mild with a local variation. In North Greenland, the climate is High Arctic. Here, the summers are cool with midnight sun, while the winters are harsh and the polar night lasts one to five months. Mid and South Greenland generally has a Low Arctic climate. However, in the deep fiords of South Greenland, the climate is Sub Arctic, allowing a few trees to grow.

The highest temperature measured in Greenland since 1958 is 25.9 degrees Celsius on the West Coast of Greenland in July 2013. The coldest place in Greenland is the Ice Cap, where temperatures can drop below -70 degrees Celsius.

Due to the cold climate, Greenland has a large need for energy. Since the 1990s, five hydropower plants have been built, supplying Nuuk, Qaqortoq/Narsaq, Sisimiut, Ilulissat and Tasiilaq. Before hydropower plants were introduced, power was produced from fossil fuels only. Smaller towns, settlements and outer districts still rely entirely on fossil fuels for production of electricity. A small amount of heating is produced from incineration of waste in treatment plants.