IntroductionAs environmental issues, in particular climate change, becomeincreasingly important, energy consumption and production comeunder intense scrutiny. The increasing magnitude of global energyconsumption and its rapid growth have severe environmentalimplications. The global human population continues to grow, andcountries are continuing to develop, causing steep increases in thedemand for energy. At the current rate of increasing energy use,energy demand is expected to increase 65% from 2004 levels by2030 (Sims et al., 2007). However, the majority of energy currentlyused globally is derived from non-renewable sources (Ristinen andKrushaar, 2006; Sims et al., 2007).Ever since the oil crisis of the early 1970s, the four Nordiccountries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden) have investedheavily in the search for alternative energy sources. Measures tophase out the use of oil have proceeded smoothly.1In 1970, oilaccounted for more than 70% of energy supplies in the Nordic