Production and consumption of energy, energy account, 2013-2014

In previous years, figures for the energy balance and the  energy account were published in one article. In order to better highlight the developments in these two different ways of displaying the energy production and consumption, analyses of the figures are now published in two different articles. In this article, the energy accounts including energy intensities are published. Figures for 2014 are preliminary figures. Figures for the production and consumption of energy on Norwegian territory are presented in the energy balance.

Weak growth in the primary energy production

According to the energy account, the total primary energy production in 2014 was 2210 TWh, which is a 1 per cent increase from the previous year. Thirty-nine per cent of this total production was crude oil, 48 per cent natural gas and 6 per cent was district heating and electricity. Net energy exports, i.e. exports minus imports, was 1966 TWh.

Total energy use almost unchanged in 2014

Total energy use by Norwegian companies was 255 TWh in 2014, which is a 1 per cent change from the previous year. This does not include energy products used as raw materials or transformation in the manufacturing industries or the refineries. In addition, the energy consumption in households was 61 TWh

Changes in energy consumption influenced by different factors

The development in energy use is influenced by numerous factors. Increased production of goods and services contribute in isolation to higher energy consumption, while technological development of more energy-efficient products and a focus on energy efficiency will contribute to lower energy use. The composition of businesses in the economy also has a large bearing on the development of energy for the economy as a whole, where structural changes, such as the growth in energy-intensive industries, contribute to increased energy use.

By calculating energy intensities, we can ascertain whether the production has become more or less energy-intensive over time.

Reduced energy intensity in the Norwegian economy

By looking at energy consumption in relation to production of goods and services by Norwegian companies, we obtain a measure of energy intensity. In 2014, Norwegian companies used 69 GWh per billion NOK produced (measured in fixed 2005 prices). This is a reduction of just over 1 per cent from the previous year and 23 per cent lower than in 2000. However, looking at the individual industries, the trend has been quite different in the 2000s.

Energy consumption in manufacturing industries down while production has increased

The energy use in the manufacturing industries was 76 TWh in 2014, which is a decrease of 1 per cent from 2014 and 15 per cent from 2000. While energy consumption has decreased, the production in manufacturing increased. It has resulted in a decline in the energy intensity of more than 30 per cent from 2000. Energy intensity averaged 121 GWh per billion NOK in 2014 for the manufacturing industries.

The decline in energy consumption since 2000 has been particularly large in the energy-intensive industries such as metals and production of paper and paper products. Energy use in the production of basic metals was 31 TWh in 2014, which is 15 per cent lower than in 2000. The production of basic metal increased slightly in this period, resulting in a decrease in energy intensity of 20 per cent.

In the production of paper and paper products, 4.5 TWh was used in 2014, which is a decline of 60 per cent from 2000. Closures of paper mills and lower production partly explain the reduced energy consumption in the production of paper and paper products. In addition, energy intensity decreased by 30 per cent during this period, meaning that less energy is used per unit produced.

Significant increase in energy use in oil and gas extraction

Energy use in oil and gas extraction has increased by 5 per cent from 2013 and 37 per cent since 2000 to 56 TWh in 2014. In the same period, production has fallen, giving an increase in energy intensity of 66 per cent. The correlation between oil and gas extraction and energy consumption is complex. The energy intensity varies among the different oil and gas fields. One reason for the increased average energy intensity in oil and gas extraction is considered to be related to more energy-demanding production as the most easily accessible oil and gas resources extracted.

Primary and transportation industries use less energy

Energy use in the primary industries of agriculture, forestry and fishing reached 8.5 TWh in 2014, which is a decline of 10 per cent from 2000. Energy consumption in the transport industries, including ocean transport and international air transport, was 65 TWh, which is 15 per cent lower than in 2000. During the same period, energy intensity decreased by 33 per cent for agriculture, forestry and fishing and 28 per cent for the transport industries.

Warm weather in 2014 resulted in lower energy consumption for households

Record high temperatures in 2014 contributed to a decline in energy consumption in households of about 5 per cent from the year before. Compared to 2000, there has been an increase of about 3 per cent, which is significantly lower than the population and consumption growth in the same period.