Electricity, February 2012

The very high power generation can be seen in conjunction with a large amount of water in the Norwegian power system. According to the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate the reservoir filling was 65.3 per cent at the beginning of February. Throughout the month, the filling fell by 9.3 percentage points to 56.0 per cent at the end of week 8. The median filling for the corresponding week in the years 1990-2011 is 52.0 per cent.

All time high net exports

Norway’s export of power totalled 1 968 GWh in February 2012, whereas imports came to 261 GWh. This gave net exports of 1 707 GWh, and is the highest level recorded in February since the monthly electricity statistics started in 1979. Exchange of power between countries is determined by differences in generation and the consumption situation and prices, in addition to the capacity of the power lines. The all time high net export may be due to the fact that the large volume of water in the Norwegian power system contributed to a lower average elspot price in February 2012 for the Norwegian price areas compared with the other Nordic areas.

Unchanged electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction

Electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction amounted to 8 262 GWh in February 2012. Although 2012 is a leap year, which roughly implies 3.5 per cent higher electricity consumption in this year, other things being equal, the consumption was unchanged compared with February in 2011. This may be seen in conjunction with a 2.4 degrees higher average temperature for Norway as a whole in February this year. Households, services and manufacturing other than the power-intensive manufacturing account for the majority of the electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction. Electricity consumption in households amounts to approximately 50 per cent of the electricity consumption excluding power-intensive manufacturing and extraction.

Increase in the consumption in power-intensive manufacturing

Electricity consumption in power-intensive manufacturing was 2 706 GWh in February 2012. This is 3.6 per cent higher compared with February 2011. The increase in the consumption may be seen in conjunction with one more production day in February this year. The power-intensive manufacturing utilises electricity for the production of goods. Hence, the electricity consumption is not influenced by temperature.

Tables:

• Table 1 Electricity balance. Monthly. GWh