Norway has not imported as much electricity since 2010

In 2019, 11.8 TWh of electricity has been imported into Norway. That is the highest figure since 2010, according to figures from Statnett.

11.8 TWh is equivalent to all of Oslo’s consumption of electricity in an average year. In addition, Norway has exported 11.7 TWh.

The high energy imports are due to low snow in the mountains last winter, which has led to Norwegian hydropower plants producing less electricity, according to Energi Norge.

“Last winter had unusually low snow. It gave little melt water to the over 1000 power stations we have all over Norway. The energy providers have therefore stopped production to ensure that we have enough water to supply electricity throughout the year,” writes Marketing Director Toini Løvseth of Energi Norge in a press release.

Power imports and exports are controlled hourly by electricity prices in the various countries, according to the press release.

“When we have imported so much electricity, it means that prices have been lower in our neighboring countries for many periods. Without the opportunity to import, the electricity bill here at home would have been higher,” says Løvseth.

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today