– Although there may be good climate measures, they do not save electricity. And that is primarily what we need now, says parliamentary representative Sofie Marhaug from Rødt. She sent a written question to Climate and Environment Minister Espen Barth Eide about how much Enova has contributed to increasing electricity consumption since early last year, when a new agreement between the state and Enova came into force. – It is problematic that Enova’s financial support does much more to increase electricity consumption than to reduce it, says Sofie Marhaug (Rødt). Photo: SIMON S. BRANDSETH / news Contributed to a sharp increase in electricity consumption The answer from the Minister of Climate and Environment is that the pledge of support from Enova for transport, shipping and industry in particular from 1 January last year to August this year will increase electricity consumption by 900 GWh . That is as much electricity as 42,000 average detached houses use in a year. (According to Statistics Norway, a single-family home uses an average of 25,700 kWh of energy a year. Of this, electricity accounts for approx. 21,000 kWh. The figures are from 2012). Transition to electric ferries is one of the measures Enova supports. It reduces emissions of greenhouse gases, but at the same time increases electricity consumption. Sofie Marhaug emphasizes that she is not against electric ferries, but believes that Enova must place greater emphasis on measures that save electricity. At the same time, Enova supports measures in households to save electricity through support for, for example, liquid to water heat pumps. The company also supports local energy production (especially solar cells), which contributes to less need for “purchased electricity”. But efforts in this field only led to a reduction in electricity use of 50 GWh, equivalent to the consumption of 2,300 households. When 75 percent of the departures between Horten and Moss are electric, the emissions from the combustion of six million liters of diesel are cut. But the ferries will use roughly the same amount of electricity as 1,000 detached houses. Photo: Lars Håkon Pedersen / news – Too little emphasis on power saving Sofie Marhaug believes that although Enova supports many sensible climate measures, the company places too little emphasis on measures to reduce electricity consumption in residential houses and other buildings. State Secretary Sigrid Hagerup Melhuus (Ap) in the Ministry of Climate and Environment confirms that climate measures increase the use of electricity. – Power consumption will increase due to the climate measures, says State Secretary Sigrid Hagerup Melhuus (Ap) in the Ministry of Climate and Environment. Photo: Kjartan Rørslett / news – We have to replace fossil energy with renewable energy in order to manage to cut emissions in the climate crisis we are facing, she says. – What is more important: cutting emissions or reducing energy consumption? – Both parts are equally important. Because we have a very serious energy situation now. In addition, we have a climate crisis, and we need to work on both at the same time, says Sigrid Hagerup Melhuus. Enova provides support to home owners who want solar panels on the roof. It reduces the need for electricity from outside. Photo: Adan Tassamma / news – Search for renewable energy In Cicero, the center for climate research, senior researcher Asbjørn Torvanger says that it is not surprising that electricity consumption is increasing due to climate measures. – There will be a huge demand for renewable energy in the coming years, both in Norway and Europe. – What shall we do then? – Then you can either build out more renewable energy, and that is difficult and often expensive and fraught with conflict. Or you can use the energy we have more efficiently, i.e. energy saving. Cicero researcher Asbjørn Torvanger believes there will be an even stronger desire for renewable energy in the coming years. Photo: Cicero Torvanger believes that Enova must prioritize differently: – They should prioritize energy saving more strongly in relation to innovation, because this is where they get the most bang for their buck and presumably also the fastest results, Torvanger believes. – Different priorities should be set In 2020, the previous government entered into a new governance agreement with Enova in which there is no longer a concrete target for energy efficiency. The main emphasis will instead be placed on promoting technology that cuts greenhouse gas emissions. – We must renegotiate the agreement with Enova or draw up an additional agreement that includes energy saving and security of supply, says parliamentary representative Sofie Marhaug. – Can’t put the climate on hold SV’s energy spokesman Lars Haltbrekken reacts to the statements from Marhaug. – After the hottest summer in over 500 years and the dramatic flood in Pakistan, we cannot take a break at all in the climate fight, as Rødt is now actually proposing. What’s more, they completely ignore the fact that we get a sharp reduction in energy consumption by switching from diesel-powered to electric-powered ferries. Lars Haltbrekken (SV): – We cannot take a break from the climate battle. Photo: Berit Roald Haltbrekken agrees that a stronger investment in energy efficiency in households is needed. – SV will propose this next Monday at the Storting’s extraordinary electricity meeting. But this must be in addition to the work Enova does to cut emissions, says Haltbrekken.
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Enova’s climate measures contribute to higher electricity consumption – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
