A long-term perspective on Norwegian energy use
Norway is the home country of the leader of Brundtland Commission, which recommended that nations reduce their energy use through increased energy efficiency. In order to better understand the potential for such a reduction in Norway, the Norwegian Oil and Energy Department, along with Oslo Lysvaerker, asked the International Energy Studies Group at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory to analyze the changes in the level and structure of Norwegian energy demand that have developed since 1950. The long time horizon of our analysis allowed us to examine the evolution of the energy use of each major sector of the economy. The results of our analysis show that energy efficiency has not improved as much in Norway as in other countries since 1973. Two factors lie behind this finding. First, electricity and wood have been cheap and abundant in Norway, and oil, although priced for international markets, has not been perceived as a scarce fuel. Indeed, the burgeoning revenues from the oil sector provided Norwegians with access to more cars and more travel, larger and more comfortable homes, and other amenities so that energy use increased even after 1973 while the citizens of other nations were cutting back on energy use. The second, more subtle factor, is that the use of energy in Norway reached maturity only quite recently, as the ownership of the principal energy-using equipment of each sector began to approach saturation. The maturation of energy demand in Norway implies that the significant potential for energy resource conservation can now be exploited. If energy prices should rise significantly in Norway, we expect that the energy efficiency of the Norwegian economy could improve dramatically in the future. 39 refs., 37 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/CE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00098
- OSTI ID:
- 6663898
- Report Number(s):
- LBL-27295; ON: DE90014887
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Italy: estimates of future energy/GDP relationships
Energy use and conservation in the USSR: Patterns, prospects, and problems
Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
FORECASTING
NORWAY
ENERGY POLICY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DEMOGRAPHY
ECONOMICS
ELECTRIC POWER
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
FUEL CONSUMPTION
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
INDUSTRY
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLANNING
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
SERVICE SECTOR
SPACE HEATING
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR
VARIATIONS
EFFICIENCY
EUROPE
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HEATING
POWER
SCANDINAVIA
WESTERN EUROPE
293000* - Energy Planning & Policy- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
291000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Conservation
294000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Fossil Fuels
296000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Electric Power