Why is hydropower so important to Norway’s electricity supply?

Hydropower is essential to Norway’s electricity supply because the country possesses immense natural potential for hydroelectric generation. A significant portion of Norway’s landscape is mountainous, with about one-fifth of the country situated at least 2,950 feet above sea level, and it features approximately 65,000 large lakes, many at high elevations. Combined with abundant precipitation brought by prevailing westerly winds, these geographic features provide the ideal conditions for generating hydroelectric power.1

As a result, hydropower stations meet virtually all of Norway’s electricity consumption needs. By the beginning of the 21st century, Norway held the world’s highest per capita production of hydroelectricity, and renewable energy accounted for more than three-fifths of the nation’s total energy consumption. This reliable and vast energy source has historically supported major industrial activities, such as the large smelting plants located in the Vestlandet fjords, which were specifically constructed to exploit the region's hydroelectric resources.1