Energy account and energy balance, 2007-2008

The increase in energy consumption in 2008 is partly due to higher consumption of energy commodities used for non-energy purposes due to the start-up of a large anode factory, among other things. Energy consumption excluding non-energy use was almost unchanged ¹ from 2007 to 2008. “Non-energy use” is defined as energy commodities that are not used for energy purposes, such as LPG used as input in the production of industrial chemicals, or coal and coke used as input (not fuel) in the production of mineral products or iron or steel.

Modest growth over time

Seen over a longer period, the growth in energy consumption has been relatively modest in spite of growth in the economy and the population, which generally means greater needs for energy. Since 1998, the energy consumption rose by 3 per cent. Energy used for transport purposes had the highest increase in the period 1998-2008, with 14 ¹ per cent, while consumption in manufacturing industries and other sectors was somewhat reduced. The decline in other sectors can be related to a warmer climate, increasing energy prices and energy use being more efficient than before.

Since 1990, it is only in 1996 that the average temperature has been lower than normal. For the remainder of the years, it has been somewhat warmer than normal compared to the climatic normal for the period 1961-1990. In 2008 and 2007, the temperature was 1.4 and 1.3 ^o C above normal respectively. Better insulation in buildings, more energy efficient white goods, machinery, electrical equipment and cars and more heat pumps will also limit the growth in the energy consumption. The households’ total energy consumption dropped by 3 per cent from 1998 to 2008, while energy consumption per household fell by 14 per cent in the same period. The latter can also be related to structural changes, for instance that more people are living alone. From 2007 to 2008, the households’ total energy consumption fell by about 1 per cent.

Higher energy prices

The price of heating oil rose considerably from 2007 to 2008. Measured in firm 1998 prices, the price of heating oil doubled from 1998 to 2008. The electricity price also rose in 2008, and came to 89 øre/kWh in current prices for households, but nevertheless it was cheaper to use electricity than heating oil. The households reduced their consumption of both oil and electricity compared to the previous year, but oil products fell mostly. Consumption of district heating rose, but this made up only 1.6 per cent of the household consumption in 2008, and about 1 per cent of overall consumption.

Electricity consumption makes up about half of our energy consumption, and this rose by about 1 per cent from 2007 to 2008. Consumption of oil products, incl. ¹ petroleum coke, fell by 3 ¹ per cent from the previous year if non-energy use is included, and by 2 per cent if non-energy use is excluded.

Lower consumption in refineries

The consumption in manufacturing industries rose by about 1.5 ¹ per cent from 2007 to 2008, but consumption in refineries, which is included in the energy sector in the balance sheet, dropped significantly by about 12 per cent. Energy consumption for transport purposes was almost unchanged from the pervious year. Energy consumption in fishing and agriculture dropped by about 2 per cent from 2007 to 2008, while consumption to other consumers (private and public services, defence and construction) was on about the same level these years ¹ . It can be assumed that the consumption in industries was affected by the production development related to the financial crisis in 2008, and that it rose lower than it otherwise would have done.

High energy consumption in energy producing industries and in foreign transport

Due to comprehensive energy production in Norway, a large part of the energy consumption takes place in the energy sector. Within oil and gas extraction, the energy consumption made up about 52 TWh energy (mainly natural gas and electricity), while an additional 9 TWh was flared off. Together, this makes up 61 TWh, which is higher than the energy used for domestic transport purposes. Furthermore, about 12 ¹ TWh was used in foreign aviation and shipping, which is energy delivered from Norwegian harbours and airports and used in transport abroad.

More electric cars

The number of electric cars has increased in the past year, and came to 1 750 cars in 2008. The average mileage was about 6 600 km per year according to the vehicle register. Calculated electricity consumption, based on an assumed consumption on 0.18 kWh /km, was about 2 GWh in 2008. The cars can be charged at home, at public charge stations or in companies. About 80 per cent of the cars are privately owned. It is difficult to separate this consumption from other electricity consumption, but it can be assumed that a significant part of this is included in the households’ electricity consumption.

Important announcement: New industry classification

As from 2009, a new version of Eurostat's industry classification, NACE, will be in use. Important changes for manufacturing, mining and quarrying are that publishing and recycling have been moved from manufacturing to a new main industry classification. However, these changes have few implications for total energy use. Click here to read more about the implications for users, calculation and dissemination .

The new industry classification has been implemented in the energy balance sheet in 2007 and 2008, but still not for previous years.

Furthermore, some corrections and improvements have been made to the layout and methodology in the energy balance sheet, which makes it more comparable to international statistics in the field. This means that the figures presented in the balance sheet are different from before, even if data sources and data input have not been changed. Some minor changes have also been made to the tables for the energy account. Read more about this in the supplementary article, on the bottom of the page.

Tables:

• Table 1 Energy sources balance sheet for Norway. 2008. Preliminary figures
• Table 2 Energy balance sheet for Norway. 2008. Petajoule
• Table 3 Energy balance sheet for Norway. 2008. GWh. Preliminary figures
• Table 4 Energy accounts. Extraction, conversion and use of energy goods. 2008. Preliminary figures
• Table 5 Energy accounts. Use of energy goods outside the energy sectors, by industry. 2008. Preliminary figures
• Table 6 Energy accounts. Extraction, conversion and use of energy goods. 2008. Preliminary figures. PJ
• Table 7 Energy accounts. Extraction, conversion and use of energy goods. 2008. Preliminary figures. GWh
• Table 8 Energy sources balance sheet for Norway. 2007.
• Table 9 Energy balance sheet for Norway. 2007. Petajoule.
• Table 10 Energy balance sheet for Norway. 2007. GWh
• Table 11 Energy accounts. Extraction, conversion and use of energy goods. 2007
• Table 12 Energy accounts. Use of energy goods outside the energy sectors, by industry. 2007
• Table 13 Energy accounts. Extraction, conversion and use of energy goods. 2007. PJ
• Table 14 Energy accounts. Extraction, conversion and use of energy goods. 2007. GWh
• Table 15 Energy use in Norway 1998-2008, exclusive international maritime transport and commodities used as raw materials. Renewable and not renewable energy. TWh and per cent.
• Table 16 Net consumption of individual energy bearers. 1976-2007. Red figures revised 22. December 2008
• Table 17 Energy balance 1998-2008*. Petajoule
• Table 18 Percentage share of energy consumption, by individual energy carriers. 1998-2008*
• Table 19 Energy consumption in households. 1990-2008*
• Table 20 Energy consumption in households. 1990-2008*. GWh
• Table 21 Average electricity prices and list prices of selected petroleum products. Excluding and including taxes. 1993-2008
• Table 22 Calculated prices of utilized energy. 1978-2008. Fixed 1998-prices. øre/kWh. All taxes included
• Table 23 Energy balance, total energy 1998-2008. GWh
• Table 24 Supply and use of electricity 1998-2008. GWh