All time high wind power generation in Norway

The all-time high production of wind power must be seen in conjunction with several new wind power plants in Norway in 2019. The wind power generation is equivalent to the average electricity consumption of about 350 000 households.

Hydro power still dominates the electricity generation

Although the wind power has grown rapidly in the last years, hydro power is still dominating the Norwegian power system.

Hydro power accounted for 93,4 per cent of the total electricity production of 134,6 TWh in 2019, while thermal and wind power accounted for 2.5 and 4.1 per cent respectively. Compared to 2018, the wind power`s share of total production increased by 1.5 percentage points.

Decrease in the total electricity production

The electricity generation came to 134.6 TWh in 2019; this is 8.3 per cent or 12.2 TWh lower compared with the 2018.

The decline comes as Norwegian reservoirs saw less inflow of water in 2019.

Small net import of power

Norway`s export of power totaled 12.3 TWh in 2019, whereas imports came to 12.4 TWh. This gave net imports of about 0.1 TWh.

Last time Norway had net import of power on annual basis was in 2010. In 2019 Norway had net import of power in the months February-May in addition to November and December. Exchange of power between countries is determined by differences in generation and the consumption situation and prices, in addition to the capacity of the power lines.

Still high domestic electricity consumption

The gross consumption of electricity came to 134.7 TWh in 2019; a decrease of 1.5 per cent compared with the record from the previous year and the second highest level ever recorded.

Lower electricity consumption in extraction of crude oil and natural gas

Electricity consumption in plants for extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas on the mainland, including electricity distributed from the mainland to the Norwegian Shelf, amounted to 8.1 TWh in 2019. This is 5.1 per cent less compared to 2018. The electricity consumption in extraction on the mainland encompasses receiving and processing plants for crude oil and natural gas.

Reduction in the electricity consumption in power-intensive manufacturing

Electricity consumption in power-intensive manufacturing was 36.6 TWh in 2019. This is 0.5 TWh or 1.3 per cent lower compared with the previous year.

Roughly unchanged electricity consumption in the group excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction

Electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction amounted to 80.5 TWh in 2019; approximately the same level as in 2018. Households, services and manufacturing other than power-intensive manufacturing account for the majority of the electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction.