Will provide more support for power saving – NRK Vestfold and Telemark

– Here the machines stood and drilled holes 200 meters down, says Ole Lindseth, who owns a detached house in Horten.

He has drilled for geothermal energy and invested in a new technical room in the house. Rock heating radically cuts electricity consumption.

But the measure cost NOK 340,000. He received 40.00 in support from Enova.

– We are very satisfied with the environmental part of it and then of course we are very satisfied with the economic part of it, he says.

But Lindseth is keen that more people should do as he does. And that if everyone contributes, together we can achieve something big.

Traces a doubling of electricity prices

In recent years, electricity prices have increased dramatically. Norwegians were used to average prices of around 30 øre, but now it is far from unusual for the price of electricity to be several kroner.

Towards 2030, analysis groups predict that Norway will struggle to deliver enough power to meet the need. The result could be prices twice as high as today, according to an analysis from Volt Power Analytics that Europower has mentioned.

By Tuesday at the latest, a kilowatt hour costs over NOK 2 in southern Norway. It is among the most expensive days recorded so far this year.

The home owner in Horten believes that more financial support would have motivated more people to do the same as him.

Today, Enova, which is a state-owned enterprise, has the “Enova supplement” aimed at households where they are keen to introduce new technology to the market.

– It is unfair that many are left out

Now Enova’s agreement for the next four years is to be drawn up and several are advocating that their mandate must be changed.

Last year, Enova paid NOK 67.5 million to 607 home owners who upgraded older homes to today’s energy requirements. Many more insulated their homes, but were not entitled to support.

The Consumer Council believes it is unfair that so many people are excluded from Enova’s support schemes, while everyone pays in excess of their electricity bill.

– There is an obvious need to make Enova’s mandate more consumer-friendly. Large groups are currently excluded from the support schemes, says director Inger Lise Blyverket.

She believes that all consumers should have the same opportunity to implement energy efficiency. E.g. tenants, consumers in housing associations and co-owners have much worse arrangements than homeowners and those with good advice and expertise:

– I think there is too little awareness of what is needed to use us consumers as strong driving forces in the big green shift, says director Inger Lise Blyverket.

Buildings account for approximately 40 percent of energy use in Norway, according to the Ministry of Energy.

Energy efficiency in Norwegian buildings can reduce energy use corresponding to 10 percent of Norway’s electricity consumption, according to NVE.

In the Consumer Council’s electricity survey for 2023, 34 per cent said that they had taken measures to save electricity that had affected the quality of life.

– Energy efficiency measures are a way out of energy poverty, and there is a need for separate measures aimed at the least well-off, says the consumer director.

Will change Enova’s mandate

She is supported by the Heat Pump Association, which is one of several organizations that last week gave input to the climate minister about giving support to “”mature”” technology.

They have long worked for Enova to be given a mandate to be able to provide investment support for mature and proven energy initiatives.

This applies to support for both single-family homes, terraced houses, housing associations and condominiums and commercial buildings.

But Energy efficiency will also reduce power demand and encroachment on pristine nature, they believe.

– What we want is for Enova to have a clear energy target for the next four years. That is to say, they should contribute to reducing energy consumption in Norway, says Rolf Iver Mytting Hagemoen as general manager of the Heat Pump Association. .

Recently, the EU reached an agreement on new rules for energy saving in buildings.

By 2026, all countries must create a plan to reduce the average use of primary energy in homes by 16 percent. It covers the years up to 2030 and then with 20–22 per cent until 2035.

The heat pump association points out that the countries around us all have better arrangements than we do. E.g. in Sweden where they give a tax deduction for handicraft help in the home (ROT deduction).

Both the Conservatives and the Reds are pressing on

35 organizations support the Heat Pump Association in that Enova must also provide more support for energy efficiency measures in Norwegian homes.

Now the politicians in opposition are also pushing.

They believe the Government is not doing enough to stimulate ordinary people to take measures in their homes.

– Rødt wants Enova to provide support for mature technology, for heat pumps, for retrofitting

of houses, replacement of windows, says spokeswoman for energy policy in Rødt, Sofie Marhaug.

She believes that you cannot turn away and pretend that the market will solve this by itself, and is supported by her parliamentary colleague Mathilde Tybring Gjedde in the Conservative Party:

– We think that Enova should look at different arrangements. There can be targeted tax deductions, that

can be favorable loans that are paid off over online rent, for example, she says and adds:

– The most environmentally friendly energy we have is the energy we don’t use and now we are steering towards a power deficit.

I believe it is most important to support new technology

– The government is now working with Enova’s mandate, and receives a lot of input from all over the country, says climate minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen.

He points out that Enova e.g. already supports a number of types of heat pumps.

Today, you can apply for support from Enova for, among other things liquid-to-water heat pump, water-borne system, and heat pump boiler.

– The government believes that Enova’s most important task is still to prioritize new technology, says climate minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen.

The owner of the house in Horten believes that we must all contribute to the green writing. And I think more people would have done as he did if the support schemes were better.

– If everyone contributes, then there will be a lot in the end, he says.

Here you will find an overview of which measures Enova provides subsidies for in the private market.

Husbanken offers loans to upgrade housing.