Norway deployed 148.68 MW of solar power in 2024, pushing its cumulative installed PV capacity past 750 MW.
Norway has installed 148.68 MW of solar energy in 2024, according to figures from the Norwegian Directorate of Water Resources and Energy (NVE).
The figure is lower than that of Norway record year for solar deployment in 2023, adding 306.17 MW of new solar power, but in line with the 149.97 MW installed in 2022. Norway’s cumulative installed solar capacity now stands at 753.67 MW, according to NVE figures.
Hassan Gholami, solar energy and storage consultant at Multiconsult, explains pv magazine That installed capacity growth slowed in 2024 due to high interest rates and an uncertain market environment. This affected project financing and delayed decision-making on new installations.
“Over the next two years, I expect continued government support, improved network interconnection policies and increased public awareness to drive the market forward, although maintaining momentum may require mitigating the effects of ongoing economic uncertainties,” Gholami said .
Gholami claimed that current trends in Norway could lead to future solar additions of between 200 MW and 300 MW per year, provided there are no significant changes in policy or market conditions.
“While this growth is promising, it falls short of the government’s ambitious target of reaching 8 TWh of PV-generated electricity by 2030,” Gholami explains. “To achieve this goal, Norway would need to significantly increase the pace of installations, requiring annual additions of more than 1,000 MW. This highlights a critical gap between current growth trajectories and the levels needed to align with national energy targets.”
Gholami said major policy and market interventions will be essential to bridge the gap. He suggested that streamlining permitting procedures could reduce delays and promote faster deployment of PV, while improved subsidies for commercial and industrial projects would encourage large-scale installations.
“Additionally, providing targeted incentives for residential installations could increase household participation, promoting a more decentralized and resilient energy landscape,” Gholami added. “These measures, if effectively implemented, could position Norway to achieve its renewable energy targets while supporting a sustainable energy transition.”
Research published in July calculated the technical potential of installing solar energy on buildings and roofs across Norway and concluded that the country has the potential to achieve up to 31 GW on its buildings.
In December 2024, the Norwegian government announced a change in regulations allowing renewable energy from power stations up to 5 MW to be shared with industrial areas.
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