Case study: one country’s overall electricity energy strategy: Norway
rich HIC in north Europe. annual total energy consumption is very high at 6.2 tons
of oil equivalent per person, highest in world (EU average of 3.8 tonnes). high
because it’s a rich country with GDP per person of $55000 and high HDI (0.944).
can afford to spend a lot of money on energy and cold country with long dark
winters. lots of energy used for heating and lighting.
large reserves of oil and gas, most are exported. instead of using reserves
domestically, uses vast HEP potential; 99% of electricity generated from their
plants (country is wet, with mountains and high-level lakes) 39% of total energy
consumption comes from fossil fuels and 61% from renewables.
Most of Norway’s electricity is supplied by HEP
many high-altitude lakes and high rainfall, generate 99% of electricity and 50% of
total energy supplies from HEP
largest producer of HEP in Europe and 6th largest in world
as many lakes are natural, less environmental impact than artificially created
reservoirs
HEP is renewable by nature so sustainable
Norway is investing in renewable energy for future
one of their energy aims is to reduce dependence on HEP using a wider range of
renewable resources
needed to cope with any future rise in energy demand as all potential HEP sites
have been exploited
US3$ billion invested in developing renewable energy and energy efficiency in
2006. one of main aims is to triple wind power capacity
research into solar power aims to increase % of sun’s energy that can be converted
into electricity from 17 to 50% via research into making solar panels more efficient.
winters are dark and summer days are long: 24hr of sunlight around summer
solstice
government provides funding for firms to research and develop biofuels for
transport (e.g. waste from Norway’s salmon industry)
wealthy so able to invest in research to develop a sustainable energy future
Control of energy demand
most effective way is by influencing price through taxation. when gov increases
tax, incentive to use less
gov encourages energy conservation by ensuring all new buildings are energy
efficient e.g. triple glazing. advertising used to encourage people to conserve
energy, e.g. turn off devices when not in use
public agency that advises on energy efficiency: Enova SF, run by ministry of
petroleum and energy. house owners and businesses can contact for advice on
energy saving
industrial energy efficiency network (Bransjenettverket) established in 1989 by
ministry to encourage efficiency in industry. companies can obtain grants to
analyse the potential for energy savings and compare their performance against
other companies. about 900 companies have received info and financial support for
lowering their energy consumption
How successful and sustainable is Norway’s energy strategy?
sustainable electricity supply within the country, doesn’t have to worry about
energy security in short term and can concentrate on developing a long-term
sustainable energy supply
some aspects of overall energy policy are already sustainable, (e.g. using HEP
stations to generate electricity but others aren’t such as relying on oil for
transport) encouraging use of electric cars or biofuels could improve this.
HEP is a non-critical renewable resource which guarantees future electricity
supplies
policies such as investing in energy efficiency and renewable and putting high
taxes on oil promotes sustainability
can manage energy demand by controlling the price through taxation and
encouraging households and industries to adopt energy conservation measures
such as triple glazing
political stability and wealth of the country allow it to pressure a long-term
sustainable energy future. stable government and no corruption. TNCs and other
countries are prepared to invest.
rich country with great deal of choice of resources
achieved energy security and is adopting strategies to ensure energy security in
the future
Case study: producing electricity in Norway: the ulla-forre hydropower
complex
largest HEP complex, total capacity of 2057 megawatts, mean annual production of
4.5 terawatt hours. 3 generating stations, all utilise water from the blasjo reservoir.
main power station kvilldal, capacity of 1240MW, largest power station. opened in
1982, operated by statkraft SF, largest power company and 100% owned by state.
complex located in Rogaland (SW Norway), 100km north east of Stavanger (major
port city)
locational factors: high annual rainfall, 2000mm per year and no dry season. 15-20
rainy days a month so no water shortage. Low evaporation rates on cold high
plateau where most water stored. Water is non-critical renewable resource. area of
high relief, mountains rising rapidly from coastline. many high lakes on fjell, a
plateau at about 1000m above sea level, construction of storvass dam allowed
lakes to be raised and combined into one large reservoir, lake blasjo. deep narrow
valleys also dammed to form lower-lying reservoirs such as the suldalsvatn
reservoir in valley of suldalslagen river. power complex is within 250km of Oslo,
125km of Bergen and 100km of Stavanger. electricity transmission to 3 main cities
is easy and little power.
Operation: depends on pipes, tunnels and pumps that move water between 2
reservoirs and 3 generating stations. main supply from blasjo reservoir, collects
rain on high fjell plateau. water from 39 rivers, stored in the suldalsvatn reservoir.
when required, stations can get water from lower levels into high-level lake blasjo,
supplies always available. blasjo reservoir holds 3.1b tons of water, 1000m above
sea level, 3 generating stations much closer to sea level, provides water large
head, allows electricity to be generated. kvilldal power station, 4 large turbines,
can operate continuously. combining 3 stations into larger complex gives flexibility.
saurdai is a pumped storage HEP station, complex can meet peaks of demand
when water drained from blasjo reservoir faster than natural replenishment, can
then pump back up to lake blasjo using off peak electricity. allows complex to cope
with short term demand fluctuations.
Success: large amounts of electricity supplied. produced without fossil fuels so
doesn’t contribute to global warming. water is non-critical renewable resource, due
to high rain and reusing water so highly sustainable able to cope with long term
demand variations as the blasjo reservoir created on uninhabited plateau at 1000m
above sea level, didn’t flood anywhere and no one relocated. expensive to build
but low operating costs, cheap electricity. linking 3 stations into 1 allowed
flexibility to respond to demand. salmon migrations allowed to continue, good for
environment and local tourist industry.