Blog 5: Flexible hydropower in Norway.

     For many years (around the late 18th century), household and industry consumptions   have strongly increased. The industrial revolution and the evolution of the electricity consumption led to produce electricity thanks to hydropower. Hydropower adds up to nearly 19 percent of the world’s production of power.

     The imbalance between the supply of power and consumer demand is becoming more and more of a problem for energy companies. Norway's main energy source, hydropower, is unique in that production can easily be adjusted by releasing more or less water through the turbines. Since Norway has Europe's largest hydropower resources, the Continent's energy companies are deeply interested in gaining access to Norwegian reservoirs.  In Norway it represents approximately 99 percent of the total electric power produced. Norway is significant producer of hydropower, as well as in the international context. The amount of power produced in Norway is the highest in Europe. The expertise that Norway has in hydropower and its varied competence fields is globally very powerful. The biggest challenge, however, is not the extent of Europe's needs the balance of power, but the rapid changes that put the whole power system in Norway under pressure, changes in biological media of 'tanks' to voltage fluctuations in the grid. Reservoir levels can vary by as much as 10 meters in one day, and voltage fluctuations in the grid can overload devices consumers of electricity. Several countries have not this resource. So, they wanted to copy this Norway hydropower’s model. Each country would be in this situation but only countries that done this possess can be in this situation. 

     In summary, there is great potential to construct new hydropower plants worldwide. It is calculated that hardly 25 – 30 percent of all installations that are economically feasible are exploited up to now. Norway has become one of the first countries to be in this situation. It was a real opportunity for it.  Norway is currently a leader of the hydropower.