Europe is in the middle of an energy crisis. Work is being done at full speed to find solutions for the continent. With constant news about the war in Ukraine, sabotage on gas pipelines and increased preparedness, the outlook can at times look rather bleak. Fortunately, there are some bright spots. Here are seven good news about electricity. Little danger of rationing There is little danger of rationing in Norway. It came to light when Statnett on Friday presented measures to improve the energy situation and handle a strained power situation if it arises. They list five measures if Norway finds itself in a crisis situation, but none of them are about rationing for ordinary households. According to Statnett, there is up to a 20 percent chance that electricity may be rationed in the spring. It may initially affect industry. Norwegians have saved 15 per cent since last year High electricity prices have probably led to greater awareness of consumption. Households’ consumption of electricity up to and including August this year is 15.3 per cent lower than the same period last year. It is also 8.3 per cent lower than the same period in 2020. This is shown by figures from Elhub, which is owned by Statnett. Almost all of the reduction has occurred in the southern price areas, where high electricity prices may have provided an incentive to save. Norwegians seem to have become better at keeping up and saving electricity. Photo: Håkon Lie Lower electricity prices recently Over the past year, new records have been constantly set for electricity prices in southern parts of Norway. But this seems to have reversed, at least for a period. On average, prices have been lower in September. This is shown by the graphs from the power exchange Nord Pool. Since the beginning of July, the average price per week in the three southernmost price areas has risen steadily until the beginning of September. In recent weeks, the average price has fallen slightly again. – This is primarily because it has become a more stable gas market. The EU has come up with its measures, and people have gained more confidence that they will get through the winter, says energy analyst Tor Reier Lilleholt. At the same time, he emphasizes that prices will also vary in the future. More renewable electricity Prices are affected by the gas market, but also by renewable production, which in turn depends on the weather. Naturally, more will be produced when it is windy or sunny, for example. – Throughout the summer there was very little wind. Now it has normalized. When it is very windy, we get a low price, which in turn will reduce the average price, explains Lilleholt. More wind means increased production of renewable energy. Photo: Ingrid Lindgaard Stranden / news Power is saved in Norway It has been a dry year with a record low level of filling in several of the water reservoirs used for power generation in the south of Norway. This summer, the government asked the producers to take their social responsibility and save water in the reservoirs for the winter. NVE also asked the power companies to report on production. The weekly reports from NVE show that savings are being made. Production is low for the time of year, and last week Norway was a net importer of power for the fourth week in a row. It is positive in view of the autumn and winter we have in store. – The manufacturers have set the value so high that they save a lot of water. That’s why we get a lower price now. It shows that work throughout the summer has paid off, comments Lilleholt. There have been low water levels in several power storages in southern Norway, such as here in the Ottavassdraget in Agder. Now finally greater amounts of rainfall are expected. Photo: Ørn E. Borgen / NTB More rain in the south Fortunately, the Meteorological Institute also registers that it is finally getting a little wetter in the south. In Eastern Norway, there was 30 per cent more rainfall in September than in a normal year, and some rain is still expected in the future. Agder county makes up a large part of price area NO2, which has had the very highest prices. There they received 20 percent less rain than normal in September. Over the next 12 days, however, more than 100 millimeters of rainfall is expected in several places in the county, the institute says. The Meteorological Institute reports rain in southern Norway in the coming week. Photo: Paul Kleiven / NTB Good gas storage in Europe In mid-September, the German authorities were able to report that their storage facilities for natural gas are more than 90 percent full. They are gradually filled up more in preparation for winter. This is happening despite the fact that gas deliveries from Russia have been stopped. In normal years, stocks have been emptied at the same time as there has been supply from Russia. They will help with extra gas when the temperature drops and the heating season starts. It is therefore good news that they are now able to fill up the stocks for the winter, despite Russia’s gas cuts. – Although it has been expensive, it has removed some risk in the market, says Lilleholt. The analyst still believes that winter can be challenging. Here the temperature becomes important. – We have our fingers crossed for a mild winter.
ttn-69
Seven good news about electricity – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
