The remaining approximately 10% of Norway’s electricity supply comes from wind power. Although Norway does not use natural gas to generate electricity, the gas and energy crisis in Europe is being felt there as well. Hydropower producers have been discouraged in recent weeks from pumping more water for hydropower generation and conserving water for the winter. Operators were also asked not to export too much electricity to the rest of Europe, as reservoirs are not as full as in previous years, and not to rely on imports from Europe, which is struggling with energy supplies. At the end of last week, Norway’s water reservoirs were 59.2% full, below the 20-year average, according to data from the Norwegian Directorate of Water Resources and Energy (NVE). In comparison, water reservoirs were an average of 67.9 percent full this time of year, on average, for the years 2002 to 2021. Central Norway had its reservoirs 82.3 percent full, but southwestern Norway had the lowest water level at 45.5 percent at the end of last week. Some Norwegian utilities, including top electricity producer Statkraft, have followed transmission system operator Statnet’s call not to generate too much electricity now. “We are now producing much less than we would without the risk of a dry year scenario and rationing on the continent,” Statkraft CEO Christian Rynning-Tønnesen said in an e-mail to Reuters this week. Meanwhile, Norwegian authorities on Monday approved applications from companies to boost production from various natural gas fields, Norway’s Petroleum and Energy Ministry said, expecting record sales of natural gas through pipelines to Europe this year. Norway’s decision to allow higher gas production and record gas exports comes as its partners, the EU and the UK, scramble for gas supplies ahead of winter, which could be a share for some industries and even and households if the Russian pipeline supplies gas to Europe. stops. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More top reads from Oilprice.com:
