Enova

Background and Status

Enova SF was officially created on June 22, 2001 and became operational on January 1, 2002. Enova SF is a public enterprise owned by the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. Enova SF’s main mission is to contribute to environmentally sound and rational use and production of energy, relying on financial instruments and incentives to stimulate market actors and mechanisms to achieve national energy policy goals.

The establishment of Enova SF signals a shift in Norway's organization and implementation of its energy efficiency and renewable energy policy. By gathering strategic policy responsibilities in a small, flexible and market oriented organization, Norway has wanted to create a pro-active agency that has the capacity to stimulate energy efficiency by motivating cost-effective and environmentally sound investment decisions. Enova SF enjoys considerable freedom with regard to the choice and composition of its strategic foci and policy measures.

Enova SF advises the Ministry in questions relating to energy efficiency and new renewable energy.

Funding

To achieve these objectives, the Norwegian Parliament has set up an Energy Fund and indicated grants within a framework of up to NOK 5 billion (app. 650 million Euro) over a ten-year period. The funding will come from a levy on the electricity distribution tariffs and from ordinary grants over the national budget.

Enova manages the Energy Fund and finances programmes and initiatives that support and underpin national objectives. Enova has the freedom to choose its policy measures and the responsibility to establish incentives and financial funding schemes that will result in cost effective and environmentally sound investments.

Organisation

Enova SF is governed by an appointed Board of Directors and its activities by a four year contract with the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. Reporting of activities and achievements is done annually. After a four-year period, the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy will formally evaluate Enova SF’s activities and results and make recommendations on funding and objectives for the subsequent period from 2005 to 2010.

Enova has no regional offices. On an operational level Enova draws on a number of regional energy efficiency centres and other subcontractors to coordinate and implement its programmes. Enova’s activities are organized into programmes developed, designed and managed by teams made up of technical experts with varied backgrounds and experience. The cross disciplinary approach to programme development and implementation is an important feature of the way Enova conducts its business.

Scope

Enova SF’s objectives, as stipulated by the Norwegian Parliament, apply to stationary land-based use and production of energy. Energy issues pertaining to the transportation and offshore sectors fall outside of the agency’s areas of responsibility.

Enova SF does not fund or engage in research activities.

Objectives

Improved energy efficiency, more flexibility in the energy supply and decreased dependence on direct electricity for heating, and an increased share of renewable energy sources, other than large hydropower, in the energy supply mix are key features of Norwegian energy policy. Enova’s objectives, adopted by the Norwegian Parliament in the spring of 2000, are:

• to limit energy use considerably more than if developments were allowed to continue unchecked;
• to increase annual use of water-based central heating based on new renewable energy sources, heat pumps and waste heat of 4 TWh by the year 2010;
• to install wind power capacity of 3 TWh by the year 2010
• and increase environmentally friendly land-based use of natural gas

Enova focuses its efforts on both the energy supply and the energy demand side, and the development and adoption of reliable methodologies for performance measurement and verification of results are high priorities.

Staffing and Expertise

To achieve its goals Enova SF relies on a total staff of 23 (ceiling set at 30), of which 19 are experts. The expertise of staff members ranges across the technical, economic, statistical, policy and social science disciplines.

Enova's role is to work on a strategic level. Operational capacity associated with the handling and evaluation of applications, programme administration and coordination and other activities of this nature is sub-contracted based on competitive tenders.

Partners and Arenas

Enova SF works with a broad network of players in all sectors of the economy, including decisionmakers in commerce and industry, end-users, municipalities and other public sector and regulatory bodies. Its role is to strengthen the links between the various groups of actors, to coordinate project development and improving the effectiveness of public action in the energy area.

Activities, Programmes and Services

To achieve its goals Enova SF has organized its activities into main programme areas. Currently, organizations are invited to apply for funding within programmes in the following areas: Heat distribution (infrastructure) and heat generation based on renewable energy sources, such as bio energy, and waste. Enova SF can contribute up to 15% of the total project costs Energy End Use:

• Industry: Energy savings and efficiency improvements in industry are targeted by two programmes: Bench Marking of member companies in the Industry Network and Energy Audits and Analysis of industrial companies’ specific energy use.
• Energy management in large commercial buildings: The goal is to reduce the level of energy use by 100 GWh/year. The programme is aimed at projects and networking among building owners with a total floor area over 20.000 m². Project activities that qualify for funding are energy management, training, dissemination of information, energy monitoring and energy and environmental analyses
• Energy management in small commercial buildings: The goal of the programme is to reduce the need for energy by approx. 70 GWh/year. The programme is aimed at buildings with a total floor space under 20.000 m². Projects where more than five building owners cooperate are preferred. Activities that are funded: Training, information, energy management and monitoring and energy and environmental analyses. Forty to 50 per cent of total project costs qualify for funding, exclusive of investment costs.
• Retrofitting of street lighting: The programme is aimed at owners of large facilities and outdoor lighting infrastructure who are considering changing existing light fixtures.
• Residential buildings: The programme is aimed at both new homes and rehabilitation of existing building stock in the residential sector. Enova SF is particularly looking for best practice examples where best available climate adjusted technology is being used that will minimize the need for heating, reduce heat loss and improve heat recovery.

Wind energy: Investment subsidy is granted to good, cost effective projects that would not otherwise have been realized. The maximum level of subsidy is 10% of the total investment. A second programme aims to demonstrate and aid commercialization of wind technology particularly suitable for Norwegian climate and conditions by providing a maximum of 60% of approved project costs.

Renewable energy (other than Wind): The aim is to improve deployment of renewable energy technologies and initially priority has been placed on solar space and solar water heating and projects that combine solar heating with other energy sources than electricity. Hydro-power projects, including production from small, micro and mini generation plants is currently not covered by Enova SF’s grant schemes.

Information, advice and campaigns include regular national television advertising campaigns, energy information and advice on technologies and solutions to end-users, both household and commercial. Information and advice are provided free of charge through a national energy information helpline. Queries that require concrete on-site follow up are handled by local sub-contractors that represent Enova in the field.

Training and Education:

• Programme for development of teaching materials and learning concepts
• Programme for developing continuing education course in energy for technical personnel and engineers (accredited)
• Programme for improving energy planning skills in local municipalities
• Training of maintenance personnel in commercial buildings and industry

International Activities

International participation is a priority and Enova SF plays a role and participates in various international activities within organizations and arenas such as IEA, EU, ECEEE, EnR. Enova SF represents the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy in the IEA Energy Efficiency Working Party. Furthermore Enova SF staff is Executive Committee Members of several IEA Implementing Agreements and Programmes. Enova SF also coordinates Norwegian applications and participation in the EU SAVE and ALTENER programmes and is a working board member of the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ECEEE). Enova SF’s analysis group coordinates participation in international activities.

Contact Point

Anne Marie Abelgaard
Enova SF, Abelsgate 5
N-7030 Trondheim
Phone: +47 73 19 04 66, Fax: +47 73 19 04 31
E-mail: ama@enova.no

Website: www.enova.no