Does Norway have hydropower?

Hydropower accounts for most of the Norwegian power supply, and the resource base for production depends on the precipitation in a given year. This is a significant difference compared to the rest of Europe where security of supply is mainly secured through thermal power plants, with fuels available in the energy markets.

How do power plants in Norway work?

Many power plants in Norway have storage reservoirs and production can therefore be adjusted within the constraints set by the licence and the watercourse itself. Wind and solar power are intermittent; electricity can only be generated when the energy is available. The same applies to run-of-river power plants and small-scale hydropower plants.

How much power does Norway produce a year?

In a normal year, Norwegian power plants produce about 156 TWh (source: Electricity production - Norwegian Energy). The power production per year fluctuates depending on water inflow to the reservoirs. Still, hydropower is the only form of renewable energy production that can be adjusted based on demand.

What type of energy does Norway use?

Norway’s electricity generation is based on almost 100 per cent renewable energy. In 2023, it was based on 89 per cent hydropower and 9 per cent wind power. At the beginning of 2023, the power supply in Norway had a total installed production capacity of 39 703 MW.

How many thermal power plants are there in Norway?

Hence, production often depends on the electricity needs of the industry. These power plants use a variety of energy sources, including municipal waste, industrial waste, surplus heat, oil, natural gas and coal. There are 30 thermal power plants in Norway, with a total installed capacity of about 538 MW.

Why does Norway have a power market?

The growing share of intermittent production technologies, such as wind and solar, makes it even more vital that there is flexibility available in the rest of the system. The power market in Norway was deregulated in 1991, when few countries had market-based power systems. The market is now a fundamental element of the Norwegian power supply.