Sweden is on course to reach one of its renewable energy targets 12 years ahead of schedule, with wind turbines making a 2030 goal achievable in 2018.
In 2012, Sweden and Norway set the target of increasing production of electricity from renewables by 28.4 terawatt hours within eight years.
Already well ahead of schedule, in 2017 the Swedes then increased their target by a further 18 Twh, aiming to achieve the heightened goal by 2030.
But that goal is likely to be met in 2018 if wind turbine production continues on its current course, the World Economic Forum reports, with 3,681 turbines due to be operating in the country by the end of the year.
Strong investment in renewable sources is the main reason for the progress, the Swedish Energy Agency (Energimyndigheten) explained.
"When the government decided on a Swedish target increase of 18 Twh the market reacted with a record number of investment decisions during the year," Markus Seling from Energimyndigeten said in a statement.
Last year the Social Democrat-Green Swedish government set an even more ambition renewable target, saying the country would strive for zero net emissions by 2045.
"I think meeting the target is entirely possible. We can see that with goals we set previously like the one for renewable energy levels by 2020, where we have already met the target. It actually tends to go quicker.
Once you set the goal and start on the road, things tend to go very quickly. We’ll see. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s sooner than 2045," Climate Minister Isabella Lövin told The Local at the time.