A research group has investigated the potential for PV on walls and roofs of buildings across Norway. It says that up to 36% of feasible solar energy, or about 31 GW, could be integrated into the national energy system to align generation and consumption patterns.
A new research paper has calculated the technical potential of installing solar energy on walls and roofs of buildings across Norway and the feasibility of integrating the energy into the country’s electricity grid.
The article – written by Hassan Gholami, a consultant for Norwegian Multiconsult – examines hourly electricity demand data between 2013 and 2021, PVsyst simulations and GIS analyzes to estimate the available roof and wall area suitable for the installation of solar cells. It calculates the technical potential for solar energy on walls and roofs of buildings throughout Norway at approximately 87 GW. The eastern part of the country, including Oslo, turned out to have the greatest technical potential.
The article assesses how much of this potential can realistically meet Norway’s electricity demand, indicating that up to 36%, or 31 GW, could feasibly be integrated into the electricity grid.
“Integrating photovoltaic capacity up to 36% of the calculated capacity, which will be 31 GWp, will enable smooth integration of solar energy into the electricity grid, effectively matching production to consumption. Within this range, the electricity grid efficiently absorbs the solar energy generated, ensuring stability and sustainability,” the research report explains. “However, exceeding the 31 GWp threshold will lead to a difference between production and consumption during peak production times in summer, which could result in potential losses or necessitate exports to other regions. Policymakers and grid operators must find the right balance to promote an environmentally, nature-friendly and economically efficient energy landscape.”
The article acknowledges that if 36% of technically feasible solar energy were integrated into the electricity grid, it would not meet annual energy needs. Average annual consumption in Norway is 132 TWh, the paper says, and an analysis of annual power production from Norway’s technically feasible solar power systems is 65 TWh.
The article concludes that the research presents a “compelling argument” for the integration of solar systems as a crucial part of Norway’s renewable energy strategy. “These findings highlight a transformative opportunity for Norway to harness its substantial solar energy potential, complement existing hydropower resources and improve energy security while supporting the country’s renewable energy goals,” Gholami told me. pv magazine.
Ghloami added that Norway’s cumulative installed solar capacity reached 661 MW in May 2024. The country had a record year for solar deployment in 2023, adding 300 MW.
The research article “Technical potential of solar energy in buildings across Norway: capacity and demand”, was published in the August edition of Solar energy.
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