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Micro Power PlantsMicro Power Plants

Paper written by: Magne Holstad, Statistics Norway

Presented by: Atle Tostensen, Statistics Norway

OG4, Ottawa, 4 February 2009

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A Norwegian context

• Statistics Norway - Annual electricity statistics

• Data collection: – Concessionaires for sale of electricity

(Report to Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE)). Statistics Norway use The Statistics Act to collect data from NVE.

– Non-concessionaires (Collected by Statistics Norway)

– Data from micro power plants are not collected by Statistics Norway

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Micro Power Plants in Norway

• How do we define a micro power plant?

• Installed capacity < 100kW

• Installed capacity refers to potential or theoretical maximum production

• => Annual production = maximum 876 MWh

• In Norway only relevant related to hydro power.

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Micro Power Plant and El. stat. 1

• Comparison of actual production and theoretical production for electricity generating power plants in general:

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Micro Power Plant and El. stat. 2

• Aim to give overview of production and consumption

• In theory also micro power plants should be included

• What is the impact on production data from micro power plants?

• What about the response burden?

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Micro Power Plant and El. stat. 3

• In 2007: 200 micro power plants. (28%)

• Estimated production:

• Minimal impact on production data.

• Ok to exclude data collection from micro power plants.

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Conclusions for Norway

• 1. Give an overall picture– Collecting data from micro power plants will not give value added to

El. Stat.– The cut off point for defining micro power plants should not be lower.

• 2. Response burden as low as possible– In Norway no additional response burden by Statistics Norway's

activity.– No extra collection for micro power plants without concession.

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Questions and points internationally

• Is there an international cut off point for defining or including micro power plants? Should there be?

• The ratio of micro power plants and other power plants will differ from country to country. The minor effect micro power plants have in Norway will not necessarily be representative internationally. (New power plants -> smaller units => more and more important).

• Are micro power plants with grid treated differently from micro power plants without grid?

• Relevant for ESCM, but should for instance a cut off point discussion for micro power plants be addressed in IRES?