May 24: Norway statistics We have arrived in a country that is big in both fossil and renewable energy. Time to put the countries we'll visit into perspective.   Norway makes amazing statistics. It is the world's fifth oil exporting country, second only to China in fish exports and it has an amazing 40 percent of renewable energy, thanks to the fact that 99 percent from power (which counts for half the primary energy consumption here) comes from hydro plants.   Oslo harbour   Oil production started in the 1970's and it has been a steady income ever since, one of the main pillars under the high standard of living in this huge but sparsely populated country with only 4.8 million people.   But statistics also show that oil production in Norway has peaked in in 1993 and has since then dropped back to half of its peak value:   Source: Wikipedia   Environmentally, it is second worldwide only to Switzerland, according to The 2008 Environmental Performance Index. On the same index the Netherlands finished 27th in 2006, but in 2008 the Netherlands dropped out of the top 30 and now it forms an ugly dark sport at the top left corner of the mainly green European map.   Some figures to put countries in perspective: Country Renewable energy share in primary energy   level 2008 target 2020 Netherlands 2,4% 15% Germany 5,8% 18% Denmark 17% 30% Great Britain 1,3% 14% Norway 40% no EU member state Links: Full EU renewable energy statistics on european energy portal. More on Norway in Wikipedia.