ABSTRACT
At present, fossil fuels still supply a majority of the energy used in the Arctic and generate a large amount of carbon emissions. This significant impact is partly due to Arctic-specific challenges, such as cold climate and long distances between communities, which are often small in size. Besides the vast use of fossil fuels, these challenges also pose other issues, such as energy insecurity and increased energy costs.
However, these challenges also present opportunities for implementing cost-effective energy efficiency measures and utilizing renewable energy technologies. Besides decreasing the Arctic’s carbon footprint, some of the approaches developed in the Arctic serve as a model for other parts of the world. The Arctic has been seen as a pioneer in energy efficient construction techniques and also has a leading role in advancing renewably powered microgrid technologies.
The opportunity with the highest potential in the near-term future is energy efficiency. Energy efficiency, in general, provides the greatest reduction in fossil fuel use per monetary unit invested. However, the amount of energy reductions achievable through cost-effective energy efficiency measures has its limits. At the end, it is a highly energy efficient system powered by renewable energy sources that constitutes the vision for a low carbon Arctic energy system.
