Electricity in Norway in 2022
Norway has already become a global leader in the transition to low-carbon energy, with an impressive 99% of its electricity derived from such sources as of 2022. Hydroelectric power is by far the largest contributor making up 88% of electricity generation, with wind power supplying more than 10%. Meanwhile, fossil-derived electric energy forms just over 1% of the total. However, with the need to electrify other sectors like transport, heating and industry, the challenge now lies in further expanding the country's electricity production, even as the nation already stands as a net exporter of the resource.
Suggestions
Building on existing success, further expansion of wind power seems a promising avenue for boosting low-carbon electricity. The example set by Sweden, generating a significant 363 watts per person from wind, could provide valuable insights for such an endeavour. Moreover, while nuclear power is not currently part of Norway's electricity mix, there are several comparable nations utilizing this low carbon source to great effect. Sweden, for instance, produces 559 watts per person from nuclear power, while Finland and France generate 517 and 526 watts per person respectively. Several other nations, like the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Switzerland, also demonstrate that nuclear power can be a substantial part of a low-carbon electricity strategy.
History
Examining the history of low-carbon electricity in Norway, hydropower has been at the forefront for several decades. Notably, in the 1980s there was a significant increase with an additional 9 TWh in 1981, 13 TWh in 1983, and 9.5 TWh in 1989. However, the early 90s witnessed a decline with a drop of 10.8 TWh in 1991. A similar pattern emerged in the early 2000s, as the addition of 20.4 TWh of hydroelectric power in 2000 was offset by a reduction of 21.3 TWh the following year. Despite these occasional declines, the overall impulse for renewable sources has remained strong. The recent dynamics, however, invoke a call to diversify the low-carbon energy portfolio to ensure more stability and resilience in the future.