Camping power station factory in Norway

Many power plants in Norway have storage reservoirs and production can therefore be adjusted within the constraints set by the licence and the watercourse itself. Wind and solar power are intermittent; electricity can only be generated when the energy is available.

Hydropower accounts for most of the Norwegian power supply, and the resource base for production depends on the precipitation in a given year. This is a significant difference compared to the rest of Europe where security of supply is mainly secured through thermal power plants, with fuels available in the energy markets.

There are 30 thermal power plants in Norway, with a total installed capacity of about 642 MW. The power balance expresses the relationship between production and consumption and indicates whether the Norwegian power system is a net exporter or importer in a particular year.

Some small hydropower plants make use of the head of water between reservoirs. More than 75 % of Norway's production capacity is flexible. By using storage reservoirs, flexible hydropower plants can produce electricity even in periods when there is little precipitation and inflow is low.

In 2021, Norway set a new production record with a total power production of 157.1 TWh. In 2022, there was low levels of water inflow to the reservoirs, and the total power production was 146.1 TWh. Hydropower accounts for most of the Norwegian power supply, and the resource base for production depends on the precipitation in a given year.

In a normal year, the Norwegian power plants produce about 156 TWh. In 2021, Norway set a new production record with a total power production of 157.1 TWh. In 2022, there was low levels of water inflow to the reservoirs, and the total power production was 146.1 TWh.