According to the Norwegian Statistical Office, wind energy production in the first quarter of 2023 was 5% lower than in the same period of 2022, according to the data. An exception to the steady increase in wind production was recorded for the first time since 2016. The reduction in production is due to lower investment activity in the field of wind energy, the gradual phasing out of the Norwegian electricity certificate scheme and growing opposition to onshore wind power.
– The production of wind energy has been showing a stable growth for several years. The fact that we are currently seeing a break in this trend is that less wind energy is being developed now than a few years ago, says advisor Ståle Skrede.
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“In addition, there may seem to be a general shift in sentiment among the population, where opposition to onshore wind has increased,” says Skrede.
Production electric energy from hydropower plants amounted to 37,1 TWh, i.e. a decrease of 0,4 TWh compared to the previous year. Thermal energy production increased compared to the same period last year. Hydropower dominates the Norwegian electricity system, with electricity consumption in general supply increasing by 2,6% compared to the first quarter of 2022.
Slight increase in electricity consumption in general supply
Consumption in general supplies, where households account for about half of consumption, amounted to 25,0 TWh in the first quarter of 2023. This is an increase of 2,6 percent. compared to the first quarter of 2022
Reducing energy consumption for energy-intensive industries
Electricity consumption for both general supply, energy-intensive industry and oil and gas production – which together includes the total electricity consumption in Norway, excluding losses in the line network and pump energy consumption – increased from 36,2 TWh in the first quarter of this year . quarter of last year to 36,3 TWh this year. Despite last year's increase, this year's level is the second lowest recorded quarter since 2015.
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Source: Statistics Norway
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