Norway has a cold climate, and a large part of its energy consumption is used for heating. Unlike most other countries, the dominant source for heating is electricity. The high proportion of electric heating can put pressure on the power supply during cold periods.
Households account for about half of the total energy consumption used for heating and cooling in Norway. The industry accounts for about 25 percent, while the service sector accounts for just under 25 percent.
In 2024, 6.8 TWh of district heating was delivered to end users. District heating can be produced using many different types of fuels. Waste incineration accounted for approximately 38.2 percent of district heating production in 2024, while facilities using solid biofuels covered 28.9 percent. The use of fossil fuels for district heating production has decreased in recent years.
District heating primarily supplies larger buildings. About 53.7 percent of district heating consumption in 2024 took place in buildings within the service sector, such as hospitals, cultural, educational, and office buildings. District heating is also used in households and industry.
District heating interacts well with the power supply. If district heating can replace electricity consumption in winter, this can reduce the need for investments in the power system. Some district heating plants can also use electricity when power prices are low and switch to other energy carriers when prices are high.
District cooling involves supplying cold water through pipes for cooling purposes. The water supplied is typically pumped from the sea, lakes, or rivers. Although district cooling has been growing in Norway for some time, its usage remains relatively low. In 2024, district cooling consumption was 185 GWh. The service sector accounts for most of the district cooling consumption, while the rest is used in industry.
There are approximately 20 district heating companies in Norway that provide district cooling. The majority of district cooling production comes from cooling plants based on heat pumps.
Over one million heat pumps have been installed in Norway. Most of these are air-to-air heat pumps in households, while a significant number of larger heat pumps are installed in commercial buildings and in the industry. According to the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), 21,9 TWh of heat was produced by heat pumps in 2024, with an electricity consumption of 9,5 TWh.
Bioenergy is an important energy source for the production of heat in Norway. It contributes to energy flexibility and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Annual use of bioenergy in Norway has increased from about 9,1 TWh in 1990 to 17,6 TWh in 2024 Wood burning in households accounts for a large share, with just over 6,5 TWh in 2022.
Industry, data centers, and cooling facilities often generate heat as a byproduct. This is commonly referred to as waste heat or surplus heat. Surplus heat is thermal energy in the form of air, water, steam, or exhaust gases at a higher temperature than the surroundings, which is not utilized for the facility’s primary purpose and can therefore be used for other purposes.
The extent to which surplus heat can be utilized depends on the quality of the heat source, such as temperature level, availability, and quantity. Additionally, the available technology and customer base are decisive factors. The customer base is largely linked to the geographic location of the heat resources. From April 1, 2025, facilities with surplus heat (industry, data centers, etc.) are required to conduct cost-benefit analyses of the possibilities for utilizing this heat. To facilitate sustainable industrial development for data centers and energy-intensive industries, the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) has established a heat map.
From January 1, 2020, use of mineral oil (oil from fossil sources) for heating buildings has been prohibited. The purpose is to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The ban also includes the use of mineral oil for temporary heating of buildings under construction or renovation (construction heat).
Gas heating is very rare in Norway, with a limited domestic gas infrastructure. Since 2017, installing heating solutions based on any fossil fuel, including natural gas, in new buildings has been prohibited. Use of gas is mainly related to industrial activities.