Product name
Electricity; Norwegian consumption mix, low voltage, to consumer
Reference flow
1 kWh
System boundaries
Consumption mixes for low voltage electricity used in Norway in 2020, based on high voltage electricity mix given by NVE (2021) (Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate). This high voltage mix includes electricity production in Norway and in the countries Norway exchanges electricity with (Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland and Russia).
Transformation from high via medium to low voltage is included. Distribution network, direct emissions to air (sulfur hexafluoride, dinitrogen monoxide and methane) and electricity losses are accounted for, using ecoinvent data.
Wastes and end-of-life
Waste treatment is included in the background processes. Market processes for end-of-life treatment of infrastructure have been used. Cut-off modelling has been used, and no recycling credits have been included.
Use advice of the dataset
This dataset represent low voltage electricity used at consumer in Norway. Users should be aware to choose the correct voltage level. Ecoinvent 3.8 has been used for the background processes.
Technology description
Electricity from gas, coal, other fossil (assumed oil) and other renewable (assumed wood chips) have been assumed from combined heat and power plants. Hydro power imported from Sweden has been assumed as 100% run-of-river. Norwegian hydro power has been assumed as 76% reservoir and 24% run-of-river according to Silva and Modahl (2019).
Quality level
Good
Location
Norway
Geographical representativeness description
Calculation of the high voltage electricity mix is based on the following by NVE (2020):
– Imported electricity is assumed produced in the country from which it is imported.
– Exported electricity from Norway is assumed produced in Norway.
– Import and export it is assumed that the electricity is crossing one country border only.
Quality level
Good
Reference year
2020
Time representativeness description
To calculate the Norwegian high voltage mix, the net import and export for each country has been calculated by the hour throughout one year and then summed (NVE 2020). The electricity mix is specific for Norway in 2020, while the background processes (electricity produced by different technologies using different energy carriers, transformation and distribution network) are from ecoinvent 3.8 and may be older.
Time quality level
Good
LCI method principle
Attributional
Other comments on methods approaches
Cut off for mass or energy flows
100% is included in the foreground modelling. For the background processes (electricity produced by different technologies using different energy carriers, transformation and transmission network), see ecoinvent 3.8 – allocation, cut-off.
Data treatment and extrapolations principles
The dataset is based on the high voltage electricity consumption mix given by NVE (2020), which is then transformed to medium and low voltage by using ecoinvent 3.8 – allocation, cut-off background processes.
Data collection period
2020
Data set generator
Generated by Ingunn Saur Modahl
References
NVE (2021): Hvor kommer strømmen fra? (Where does the electricity come from?) Norges vassdrags- og energidirektorat (Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate), published 15.06.2020, updated 02.07.2021. Assessed 20.09.2021. Link: https://www.nve.no/energiforsyning/kraftproduksjon/hvor-kommer-strommen-fra/?ref=mainmenu#:~:text=Norge%20er%20en%20del%20av,hovedsak%20kom%20fra%20fornybare%20energikilder
Silva, M. and Modahl, I.S. (2019): The inventory and life cycle data for Norwegian hydroelectricity. Ostfold Research (now NORSUS), AR 01.19, public, May 2019 (based on AR 02.15 public memo). Link: https://norsus.no/publikasjon/the-inventory-and-life-cycle-data-for-norwegian-hydroelectricity/