Electricity, December 2011

The increase in hydro power generation may be seen in conjunction with a larger inflow to Norwegian water basins in 2011, whereas the increase in wind power generation must be seen in light of new wind power plants. Among other things, the reduction in thermal power generation is due to the fact that the gas power plant in Kårstø produced considerably less in 2011 compared with the previous year. Hydro power generation accounted for 95 per cent of the total electricity generation, whereas thermal power and wind power accounted for 4 and 1 per cent respectively.

Net export of power in 2011

Norway’s export of power totalled 14.3 TWh in 2011, whereas imports came to 11.3 TWh. This gave net exports of 3 TWh. 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. While Norway had a net import of power throughout the winter and the spring when there was a shortage of water, a shift to net exports took place in the summer and the autumn when the supply of water increased.

Drop in electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction in 2011

Electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction amounted to 73.1 TWh in 2011; a decline of 10 per cent compared with the previous year. An important explanatory variable of the electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction is temperature. This is due to the fact that much of this electricity consumption is used for heating. Hence, the decline may be seen in conjunction with warmer weather in 2011. Households, services and manufacturing other than the power intensive manufacturing account for the majority of the electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction. Electricity consumption in households amounts to approximately 50 per cent of the electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction.

Roughly unchanged electricity consumption in power-intensive manufacturing in 2011

Electricity consumption in power-intensive manufacturing was 33.8 TWh in 2011. This is 0.5 per cent higher compared with 2010, but 15 per cent lower compared with the average of the period 2000-2008.

Unchanged 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 5.4 TWh in 2011. This is the same level as in 2010. The electricity consumption in extraction on the mainland encompasses receiving and processing plants for crude oil and natural gas.

Lower electricity generation and net exports in December 2011

Total electricity generation came to 13 005 GWh in December 2011. This is a decrease of 8 per cent compared with the same month in 2010. Norway’s export of power came to 1 313 GWh in December, while imports totalled 869 GWh. This gave net exports of 444 GWh.

Lower electricity consumption in December 2011

Electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction amounted to 8 035 GWh in December 2011. This is 21 per cent lower compared with the same month in 2010. The decline may be seen in conjunction with a considerably higher average temperature for Norway as a whole in December 2011 compared with the same month in the previous year.

Electricity consumption in power-intensive manufacturing was 2 775 GWh in December. This is 5 per cent lower compared with December 2010.

Tables:

• Table 1 Electricity balance. Monthly. GWh
• Table 2 Production of electricity, on county level. GWh