Electricity, October 2011

Total electricity generation came to 12 101 GWh in October. This is an increase of 7 per cent compared with the same month last year. The electricity generation can be viewed in conjunction with the large inflow of water and risk of overflow in many reservoirs. When there is a risk of overflow it is more profitable to produce power and sell it at a low price than to lose valuable water. So far this year, electricity generation amounts to 101.4 TWh; an increase of 3 per cent compared with January-October last year.

More water in the reservoirs

According to the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, the reservoir filling was 86.1 per cent at the beginning of October. Throughout the month, the filling increased by 0.8 percentage points to 86.9 per cent at the end of week 43. For the individual elspot areas, the degree of filling varied from 83.3 to 92.4 per cent. The median filling for the corresponding week in the years 1990-2007 is 87.1 per cent.

From net imports to net export of power

The export of electricity came to 1 929 GWh in October, while imports totalled 225 GWh. This gave a net export of 1 704 GWh. So far this year, Norway has imported 10.2 TWh and exported 10.8 TWh; giving a net export of 0.6 TWh.

Decline in electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction

Electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction amounted to 5 861 GWh in October 2011. This is 9 per cent lower compared with the same month in 2010. The decline may be seen in conjunction with a higher average temperature for Norway as a whole in October this year. So far this year, the electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction amounts to 57.8 TWh; a decrease of 8 per cent compared with January-October last year. Households, services and manufacturing other than the power intensive account for the majority of the electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction. Much of this electricity consumption is used for heating. The electricity consumption in households amounts to approximately 50 per cent of the electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction.

Increase in electricity consumption in power-intensive manufacturing

Electricity consumption in power-intensive manufacturing was 2 909 GWh in October. This is 2 per cent higher compared with October 2010. So far this year, the electricity consumption in power-intensive manufacturing amounts to 28.2 TWh; an increase of 1 per cent compared with January-October last year.

Tables:

• Table 1 Electricity balance. Monthly. GWh
• Table 2 Production of electricity, on county level. GWh