Energy and Water Resources Department (EV)

The Energy and Water Resources Department’s main objective is to ensure sound management, in both economic and environmental terms, of water and hydropower resources, other domestic energy sources and energy use

The Energy and Water Resources Department’s main objective is to ensure sound management, in both economic and environmental terms, of water and hydropower resources, other domestic energy sources and energy use. The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) is an agency of the MPE, responsible for the management of energy and water resources in mainland Norway. The departement is responsible in the Ministry for the state owned enterprise Statnett SF.

The department consists of the following sections:

  • Section for licensing, land use and environment
  • Section for Grid, Energy use and Markets
  • Energy Policy
  • Section for Water Resources- and Energy Law

The department consists of the following sections

  • Section for licensing, land use and environment

    The section is responsible for licensing of hydro power plants, wind power plants, grid and other electricity facilities, in addition to management of granted licenses. Furthermore, issues related to floods, landslides, avalanches, the protection of watercourses and environmental impacts sort under the section. The section is also responsible for the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate.

  • Section for Grid, Energy use and Markets

    Section for Grid, Energy use and Markets is responsible for an efficient operation and development of the Norwegian energy system, and to facilitate effective use of energy.

  • Section for energy analysis

    The sections work area includes general energy policy issues and cordination of overreaching energy issues. The section have responsibility for energy analysis, including development of method tools in the energy sector, analysis of the development of the power and energy system in the short and long term, assessments of how different instruments affect the energy sector and socioeconomic assessments of concrete measures in the energy field. The section also has responsibility for coordinating EU / EEA affairs in the department, as well as horizontal regulations in the EU area.

  • Section for Energy and Water Resources Law

    The Section is responsible for regulatory developments in the domestic energy and water resources legislation. Relevant legislation is the Waterfall Rights Act, the Water Course Regulation Act, the Water Resources Act, the Energy Act, the Natural Gas Act, the Ocean Energy Act and the Act on Electricity Certificates, with supplementary regulations. The Section also has tasks related to the implementation and follow-up of EEA legal obligations, legal interpretation and the handling of public consultations within the Department's area.