The private home in Western Norway has been through an extensive upgrading process

Renewable power

Norway is already at the forefront when it comes to environmentally-friendly electricity. Right since the 19th Century, Norway has exploited the energy inherent in renewable hydroelectric power and waterfalls. There are more than 1,500 hydroelectric power stations in total in Norway (energifaktanorge.no), and renewable electricity today constitutes 98 per cent of the electricity systems in Norwegian dwellings (regjeringen.no). This electricity is primarily generated from hydroelectric power. In the past ten years, wind power has also become part of the Norwegian power production, although it is still on a minor scale. Cutting fossil fuels completely by 2020 means that Norwegian dwellings will be heated by an environmentally-friendly and renewable energy source. At the same time, there is demand for renewable electricity in Europe. In several European countries, renewable electricity is often dependent on the weather and is a less stable energy source. Unlike water, sun and wind cannot be stored in the water reservoirs which form the principal basis for Norwegian hydroelectric power. In addition, the supply of hydroelectric power makes Norway the country in Europe with the lowest electricity prices.

Low emission society

The state enterprise Enova SF was set up in 2001. The object of the enterprise is to contribute to a conversion of energy consumption and energy production. The enterprise, which has, until now, been owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, will become part of the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment from the spring of 2018. Enova works for Norway’s transition to a low emission society. The transition requires that Norway cuts greenhouse gas emissions, ensures security of supply and creates new values. The enterprise therefore works to establish good solutions on the market and contributes to new energy and climate technologies. Enova annually invests more than two billion Norwegian kroner in good solutions which contribute to building the green Norway of the future. This is achieved through State subsidies for environmentally-friendly measures aimed at improving energy efficiency – to private individuals as well as trade and industry.

As one of these measures, the Norwegian State has set up the Enova subsidy scheme. This is rights-based scheme which makes it simple for Norwegian homeowners to receive a reimbursement for energy-efficient measures implemented in their homes. Through 15 different measures, Norway thus wishes to provide incentives for Norwegian homeowners to introduce measures that will contribute to climate-friendly and energy-efficient solutions.

“Since 2015, Enova has made NOK 250 million available a year to homeowners who implement large and small energy-efficient changes in their dwellings. A Norwegian household can receive a subsidy of up to NOK 200,000 for such modernisation. We’ve already come far in the transition and made it well known among the population,” says Tor Brekke, Senior Consultant in Enova SF.

Since the slender start in 2015, the disbursements have increased in line with people learning about the scheme, but there is still some way to go. In 2017, Enova disbursed NOK 165 million to private homeowners. This constitutes just over 70 per cent of the funds available. “The greatest challenge concerns dwellings from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. When renovating these dwellings, many of the homeowners have simply refurbished their dwelling without thinking about the environment or energy efficiency improvements. This is also the segment in which we find most of those who still heat their home with fossil fuels. Enova has extra focus on precisely these dwellings, but, also in this segment, our consultants find that people are positive about receiving advice and support,” says Brekke.

In a house in Western Norway, private homeowner Tor-Martin Kvalsund enjoys the view to the west towards the sea. The dwelling, which is located in the middle of an urban building plot, was built in 1981. After Kvalsund acquired the dwelling in 2015, it has been through an extensive upgrading process, which has included environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient and electricity-reducing measures. The result is that, after the upgrade, the electricity consumption of the dwelling has been halved compared with his previous dwelling – even though his current house is twice as large. His own experience from the electronical and automation industry as well as advice from the Enova energy consultant have helped in the process.

“When I bought the house, it was a real energy guzzler and ranked very low on the energy consumption efficiency scale. My objective was to reduce energy costs as much as possible. Today, the house covers most of its energy requirements from two wells, located around 15 metres from each other under the garage,” he says.