– Low groundwater level – news Nordland

There is little to no doubt that Northern Norway has been the weather winner this summer. In the month of May, Northern Norway was able to hit the table with one heat record after another, and also in July there have been great contrasts between the north and south of the country. But the good weather also has its downside. Because while there is plenty of water in the reservoirs in the south, it is now the opposite in the north. This can lead to water shortages if the dry weather continues. In Kallvatnet by the Heimbergelva i Rana, cabin owner Lars Egil Sætermo says that he has been putting the boat out. The boat, which normally lies and bobs in the water, is now many meters away from the water’s edge. – Here you see here are several hundred meters up to the edge of the noise level where we normally put boats out. The cold water is lower than it usually is. Here, there is normally much higher resistance. Photo: Frank Nygård / news Low level of filling In the area there are 25 cabins inland which now lack water. – They have a mile and a half to walk on foot, so they are completely cut off from using a boat, says Sætermi. – Here is the stone desert. You can imagine that for yourself, there is no living life here either for bird life or fishing or anything here as it is now. He believes that Statkraft should raise the minimum regulated water height. According to NVE’s statistics on reservoirs, the degree of filling in Northern Norway is 59.2 per cent, with a median of 67.2 per cent. By comparison, the occupancy rate in the rest of the country is 78.9 per cent. NVE keeps statistics on the degree of filling in the magazines. Here you see the degree of filling for Northern Norway, area NO4. Photo: NVE NVE: – Should seek to limit consumption The start of the declining river level was already there this winter, with little snow which gave little replenishment of water with melting. – After all, we have had a very warm and good summer with high temperatures throughout July and little rainfall. This is explained by regional manager in Norway’s Directorate of Water Resources and Energy (NVE), Knut Ivar Aune Hoseth. – So little replenishment of water even then, and a good deal of evaporation, which has meant that we have a fairly low groundwater level in Nordland county. Knut Aune Hoseth in NVE. Photo: Frida Brembo / news The weather outlook going forward shows that there will be stable little rain in Northern Norway, with the possibility of more precipitation in a couple of weeks. – It can lead to problems linked to water supply, and especially for smaller or more vulnerable water sources that have had challenges in the past, says Hoseth. Therefore, one must now follow and try to limit consumption in the future, says Hoseth. – For those who are connected to facilities where there have been challenges in the past, they should think through consumption and especially if you get a signal from the owner of the facility that it is starting to become low level and problematic. – There has been some rain and there will be some rain in the next few days, to what extent will it rain? – Based on the forecasts we have now, it won’t be very much. The groundwater level is so low now, too, and such moderate amounts that it does not lead to much replenishment as of now. Power plants in the north: – Everyone saves Johnny Horsdal, says that in northern Norway only unregulated hydropower is being produced now. He is managing director at SKS Handel, the trading company of Salten Kraftsamband, which is a leading producer of power in Northern Norway. – All the producers who have the opportunity to store, they are now. Everyone saves on water and Northern Norway buys a lot of power from the surrounding area, and therefore imports a lot. Electricity expert Johnny Horsdal says electricity may become more expensive in northern Norway in the future, and cheaper in southern Norway. But he is not worried. Photo: BENJAMIN FREDRIKSEN Then the price will be higher than normal in Northern Norway, without there being any question of a crisis level. Today, it amounts to around 26 øre per kilowatt hour in the north. Affects electricity prices in the south: – Not so high Because we have been lucky with wet conditions in the south, electricity prices are also lower there, says Horsdal. – They are not as tall as they used to be. Horsdal expects that it will cost between 30 and 40 øre per kilowatt hour of electricity in southern Norway, should it become wetter than normal in the future. Kristiansund has become more connected on the continent and has the highest price in Norway. – But it is so wet in the south, in Eastern and Western Norway, and dry up here in Northern Norway, so that Southern Norway has come down significantly from what it was before. It also means that northern Norway gets imports from the south. That’s the point, he explains: It rains in different places at different times, so the market has to deal with it. May become more expensive in a few weeks The excitement will be when people return in the next few weeks and consumption picks up, while it is dry. Then it can start to drag on, says Horsdal. – But now it has been so dry in southern Norway, so there is a drop in prices there, so this could go well. At the end of August, there will be more lift in the north of the country, says Horsdal. – It is fast 38 øre basic power, so it will be closer to 40 øre at the end of August in Northern Norway, while we are now down to 26 øre. – We have been here before, we usually are here, and it is not a big problem. But when it is still dry and consumption is picking up, it can drag a little more upwards. Published 03.08.2024, at 17.35



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