Norway, where hydropower accounts for 90%, has been hit hard by drought

While Europe scrambles to procure natural gas for winter power generation and heating, Norway, the largest oil and gas producer in Western Europe, faced an entirely different power problem this summer — dry weather that depleted hydroelectric reservoirs, which Electricity generation accounts for 90% of Norway’s electricity generation.About 10% of Norway’s remaining electricity supply comes from wind energy.

Although Norway does not use gas to generate electricity, Europe is also feeling the gas and energy crisis. In recent weeks, hydropower producers have discouraged using more water for hydroelectric power generation and saving water for winter. Operators have also been asked not to export too much electricity to the rest of Europe, as reservoirs are not as full as in previous years, and not to rely on imports from Europe, where energy supplies are difficult.
Norway’s reservoir filling rate was 59.2 percent as of the end of last week, below the 20-year average, according to the Norwegian Water and Energy Agency (NVE).

By comparison, the average reservoir level for this time of year from 2002 to 2021 was 67.9 percent. Reservoirs in central Norway are at 82.3%, but southwest Norway has the lowest level at 45.5%. last week.
Some Norwegian utilities, including top power producer Statkraft, have followed a plea from transmission system operator Statnet not to produce too much electricity now.

“We are now producing far less than we would have been without a dry year and the risk of rationing on the continent,” Statkraft Chief Executive Christian Rynning-Tnnesen said in an email to Reuters this week.
Meanwhile, Norwegian authorities on Monday approved an application by operators to boost output at several fields, with record sales of natural gas to Europe through pipelines expected this year, the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy said. Norway’s decision to allow higher gas production and record gas exports comes at a time when its partners the EU and the UK are scrambling for gas supplies ahead of winter, which could be a ration for some industries and even households if Russia supplies Europe with pipeline gas. One stops.