12 WHY NORWAY AS A GREEN BATTERY …
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Moreover, beyond marginal voices, wind power has never been part
of a green battery/climate strategy. Rather, wind power has historically
been perceived as a useful complement to the existing, hydropower-based
system, to prevent dry years from producing electricity deficits (Moe
2014, 2015). However, in the context of the present “wind power rebellion”, Norwegian politicians have become extremely wary of supporting
further installations. Meanwhile, the end of the certificate system to some
extent will result in an automatic drop in installations. The new mantra
is instead renewed support for offshore wind, as exemplified by Enova
funding for Equinor’s floating offshore wind project (e.g., Arbeiderpartiet
2020).
Vested Interest Influence?
In the theory section, we suggested that Norwegian energy policy
routinely has been dominated by vested interests. The main vested interests of relevance to the green battery are the power sector, organized
through the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) and the
energy-intensive industry, organized through LO. Additionally, while not
constituting a uniform or strongly institutionalized vested interest per
se, there is no doubt that environmental organizations have engaged in
lobbying activity. This section explores the extent to which these interests
have influenced policymaking, and whether this has changed since 2013.
Regarding subsea cables, the vested interest influence is easily identified. Until 2018, there was near unanimity among two different government coalitions on constructing two subsea cables. Several interviewees
pointed out that this consensus was founded on a big compromise
between the two main vested interests, preceding the MOPE concession
approval: LO agreed to the power sector’s demand for surplus renewable electricity to be exported through new subsea cables. In return,
new wind power (and hydropower) installations would ensure that the
industry could still rely on cheap and abundant electricity. One interviewee stated that this compromise to a significant extent was initiated by
Energi Norge, which recognized the importance of getting ahead of the
politicians to forge an agreement between the most important interests
before the license application process started. Within LO the agreement
was contentious, and some LO sub-branches strongly opposed it, but the
overall stamp of approval from LO made it far easier, especially for the
Labor Party, to support cables.
303
Moreover, beyond marginal voices, wind power has never been part
of a green battery/climate strategy. Rather, wind power has historically
been perceived as a useful complement to the existing, hydropower-based
system, to prevent dry years from producing electricity deficits (Moe
2014, 2015). However, in the context of the present “wind power rebellion”, Norwegian politicians have become extremely wary of supporting
further installations. Meanwhile, the end of the certificate system to some
extent will result in an automatic drop in installations. The new mantra
is instead renewed support for offshore wind, as exemplified by Enova
funding for Equinor’s floating offshore wind project (e.g., Arbeiderpartiet
2020).
Vested Interest Influence?
In the theory section, we suggested that Norwegian energy policy
routinely has been dominated by vested interests. The main vested interests of relevance to the green battery are the power sector, organized
through the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) and the
energy-intensive industry, organized through LO. Additionally, while not
constituting a uniform or strongly institutionalized vested interest per
se, there is no doubt that environmental organizations have engaged in
lobbying activity. This section explores the extent to which these interests
have influenced policymaking, and whether this has changed since 2013.
Regarding subsea cables, the vested interest influence is easily identified. Until 2018, there was near unanimity among two different government coalitions on constructing two subsea cables. Several interviewees
pointed out that this consensus was founded on a big compromise
between the two main vested interests, preceding the MOPE concession
approval: LO agreed to the power sector’s demand for surplus renewable electricity to be exported through new subsea cables. In return,
new wind power (and hydropower) installations would ensure that the
industry could still rely on cheap and abundant electricity. One interviewee stated that this compromise to a significant extent was initiated by
Energi Norge, which recognized the importance of getting ahead of the
politicians to forge an agreement between the most important interests
before the license application process started. Within LO the agreement
was contentious, and some LO sub-branches strongly opposed it, but the
overall stamp of approval from LO made it far easier, especially for the
Labor Party, to support cables.