Overview |
Norway:
Norway: OverviewFacts & Figures: Basics:Population (2003): 4,55 Mio. Economy:
GNP (gross national product, per inhabitant 2000): --- $Unemployment (2002): 3,9 % Government:
Kjell Magne Bondevik of the Christian Democratic Party formed his second government on 19 October 2001, two days after former Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg of the Labour Party had tendered his resignation. Mr Stoltenberg stepped down after it became clear that a majority of the new Storting (parliament) wanted a new government.Mr Bondevik took over the government a year and a half after his previous government was forced to resign. Like Mr Bondeviks last government, this one is also a minority government, but the parties behind it are not the same as last time. The parliamentary basis of Norway's current coalition government consists of the Conservative Party (H), the Christian Democratic Party (KrF), and the Liberal Party (V). The Centre Party, which was represented in the previous government of Mr. Bondevik, was unwilling to participate in a government with the Conservative Party. |
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Summary
Norway becomes most of their energy from electricity.The electricity originates from the many water power plants spread all over the country.The Norwegian power system is interconnected with the power system of the other Scandinavian countries. Traditionally there is a large exchange of power between these countries during the last 10 years. This is necessary due to the unstable production of hydro power in Norway.
Energy market
Looking at the Norwegian energy market one can say that there have been 3 periods. At first we had small power units closely connected to the local county. From 1945 we had a period with detailed control and finally from 1990 this was replaced with a more liberal approach. When you look at the energy situation in a broader international perspective Norway has a large import and export of electricity. This is necessary because of the highly unstable situation where the level of production of electricity varies very much due to the changing level of water in the reservoirs. When it rains heavily the reservoirs get filled up and this makes it possible to produce a lot of electricity.
Legal situation
If you want to build windmills the legal application procedure is as follows:
One needs to obtain approval in accordance with the energy law (Energi loven av 29 juni 1991) and thereby obtain a franchise agreement. This applies for all installations producing more than 25 kW. All new systems of transmission lines built as a consequence of the new installation of windmills must be applied for in the same application.
The Planning and Building Act (Plan og Bygningsloven) may also be used in the application procedure:
- Description of the consequences (Forskrift om konsekvensutredning av 13. december 1996 etter kapitel VII-a.
- Superior handling of the case (Planbehandling etter kapitel VI og VII)
- Detailed treatment of the application and issuing of the building permission. (Byggesaksbehandling etter kapitel XVI)
- Law of pollution. (Forurensningloven - Støy)
- Law of the protection of nature. ( Naturvernloven - Konflikt med fredede områder)
- The law concerning protection of the cultural heritage. (Kulturminneloven - Konflikt med fredede områder/objekter)
Acceptance among the population
As far as we know there has not been made any nationwide scientific research on the attitude to the acceptance of windmills as an energy resource. A resistance- if any- may originate from local conditions where for instance a neighbour to a windmill may experience noise or any other type of disturbances.
Impacts in the economy
Windmills as a source of energy is of minor importance in the present Norwegian economy. This is because the number of existing windmills is limited today. Further, if the government changes its policy and decides to invest heavily in windmills it may have an impact on Norwegian subcontractors that may become suppliers of parts etc. to new projects.
Problems
It is necessary that the spatial planning procedure must be changed/designed in order to promote wind-power as an energy source.
The procedure of application must be relatively simple, relatively fast and non-bureaucratic.
One may discuss if the legislation in Norway at the moment is designed for this objective.
The legislation needs to be harmonized or standardized on the different levels. That means on the municipal and national level. In that way the procedure of applying to build a windmill park can be simplified and less complicated and time demanding.
Statistics
For further information and data we refer to attached paper "Norwegian national status of climate and energy policy, spatial planning requirements for wind energy development, project development" by Steen Mejrup, University College of Narvik:
