On Thursday, the Støre government will present proposals for the state budget for 2023. So far there have been few leaks about what is in store, but on Tuesday morning the government will hold the cards a little less tightly to its chest. The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy reveals to news that the government will present a six-point plan to save 10 TWh from Norwegian buildings by 2030. This is almost as much as all wind power produces in one year (11.8 TWh in 2021) . The six-point list includes, among other things, an instruction to Enova to spend NOK 1.1 billion on savings measures in Norwegian houses (see fact box). This is the government’s ENØK measure Save electricity in the building for the state The Minister of Local Government and Districts recently sent a letter to all ministries to reduce energy use in owned and rented premises. Based on this, Statsbygg has set up a reception desk to advise its tenants and other government enterprises on energy efficiency in buildings and to give advice on energy measures. Legal-based electricity savings through ENOVA From 2021-2024, ENOVA will provide NOK 1.1 billion. available for ENØK measures in the household. The scheme is based on law so that everyone who meets the criteria receives support. Appoint NVE as ENØK coordinator The work on energy efficiency is today spread across the administration and lies both within the building sector, the energy sector and the environmental sector. There is a need for stronger coordination of ENØK work across sectors, and the Government is therefore giving Norway’s Water and Energy Directorate (NVE) a new and clearer responsibility within the field. NVE will also be commissioned to report annually on the status of target achievement when it comes to energy saving in buildings. Better and simpler information about power saving Access to good information about measures for energy saving and energy efficiency is important for companies and households to make good energy choices. The government is therefore working on an information scheme about ENØK aimed at households, businesses and the public sector, which will be implemented before the coming winter. Electricity support for business The government has also proposed creating a new energy subsidy scheme, aimed at companies with electricity costs corresponding to at least 3 per cent of turnover in the first half of 2022, and which have also had their electricity prices double in the past year. A company that fulfills the criteria of the scheme, and which also carries out an energy survey, can apply for a grant to cover parts of both the electricity bill and a possible investment in energy measures. Companies that only carry out energy mapping can have up to 25 per cent of the electricity price over 70 øre/kWh covered for the months of October, November and December 2022. Companies that also like to invest in energy measures, and apply for support for this, can have electricity costs covered accordingly up to 45 per cent of the electricity price above 70 øre per kWh, and in addition receive up to 50 per cent of the investment cost of the energy measure. Strengthen the Husbanken The government is preoccupied with smoothing out social differences and helping those who need it most. Through Husbanken, we will therefore strengthen the investment in energy measures which, among other things, will benefit people with low incomes. The government will come back to Parliament with a proposal for what the investment should look like in the state budget for 2023. – We can already see that people are saving a lot on electricity. Now we want to stand up to contribute to further savings, says Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap). Photo: ØYSTEIN OTTERDAL / news / NTB – Energy efficiency is important for security of supply Behind sing questions about power supply and rationing, as well as analyzes from the Norwegian Directorate of Water Resources and Energy (NVE) which show that Norwegian buildings can reduce energy use by 13 terawatt hours (TWh). According to Statnett, there is up to a 20 percent chance that electricity may be rationed in the spring. While a new report from the Norwegian Environment Agency shows that Norway needs between 24-34 TWh of extra power for the green shift. – Energy efficiency is important for security of supply at the same time as it contributes to lower electricity prices and reduced electricity bills, says Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap). He adds: – Everyone must not have 22 degrees in the office. If we are to save 10 TWh, we must have good energy solutions both in workplaces and in homes. Then consciousness has a lot to say. I think we can all think through how we use light and heat. Course in window sill restorationOddgeir Sæle/news Transfers part of the funds from Enova to Husbanken – We had hoped that the government was more forward-leaning, says Tore Strandskog, who is director of business policy in the national association Nelfo, which sorts under NHO. He adds: – The plan to save 10 TWh by 2030 is an old goal from 2016. Here the government should show action and increase the goal setting. – This is unambitious on the part of the government Tore Strandskog, director of business policy in the national association Nelfo – The support for the companies is important to be in place, but it should also be a law-based arrangement, as it is for the attitudes. This is to avoid Enova becoming a bureaucratic plug that delays investment in ENØK measures in companies. The plan to save 10 TWh by 2030 is an old target from 2016. Here the government should show action and increase the target setting. In order to comply with the EU’s level of ambition, we would actually have to save as much as 25 TWh. We can do it, but we have to will it. It is very good that Statsbygg is given responsibility for informing about the potential of various energy saving measures. Calculations show that if you replace the traditional light tubes in the street lights on one mile of road with LED lights, you will save NOK 1 million at today’s electricity prices. This is money that comes in handy in a municipal budget. A new report from Sintef shows that only one in five home owners decide to make their house more energy efficient when renovating. The Sintef report was the starting point for Ola Elvestuen (V) asking the government in August to draw up an additional agreement with Enova for subsidies for “simple Enøk measures such as heat pumps, geothermal heating, additional insulation, solar cells and batteries”. Enova is a state enterprise that will contribute to more efficient energy solutions in Norwegian houses. In total, Elvestuen called for NOK 3 billion for Enøk measures over the next three years. In the state budget proposal, the government responds with an instruction to Enova to spend 1.1 billion. In addition, an unspecified sum will go to the Housing Bank, which is tasked with supporting energy measures for households with low incomes. – It is planned to finance the scheme by transferring parts of the funds earmarked for Enova to the Housing Bank, Climate and Environment Minister Espen Barth Eide has previously announced. The Solberg government took on the environmental movement The Solberg government took on large parts of the Norwegian environmental movement last year when Enova, with the signature of Environment Minister Sveinung Rotevatn (V), cut support for heat pumps and solar energy for households. The Association for the Remembrance of the Past recently made an attempt to identify which renovations gave the most value for money in old buildings. The result was as follows: Sealing of air leaks New interior windows or repairing the ones you have Re-insulating the attic and floor separators Heat pump
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