Oslo Municipality introduces a new support scheme for solar energy in housing associations

Here we hope to install about 700 solar panels, which together will produce about 300 thousand kilowatt-hours annually. This is too much for a condominium like ours.

Torbjørn Gjefsen is a member of the board of directors of the Stang Terrasse residential complex in Etterstad.

It stands on the flat surface of one of the five blocks that are very suitable for solar cells.

– It is primarily to save electricity costs. But of course we also want to contribute to the green transition. Here, he says, two things go well together.

Relaunching the old arrangement

These plans were put on hold when the Oslo municipality's support scheme was closed last fall. It has been replaced by a new national scheme from state-owned company Enova.

It has strict requirements on how much energy must be supplied. It has proven almost impossible to obtain support for pure solar cell projects.

That's why Oslo Municipality is relaunching a support program for housing associations and condominium owners who want to install rooftop solar cells.

– We removed our arrangements because we tend to avoid having dual arrangements, says environment and transport consultant Marit-Christine Via (V).

– But then we see that the Innova scheme was not successful enough. “Then we have to stand up and make an arrangement that works best for the people of Oslo,” she says.

20 percent

Housing associations and condominiums can cover 20 per cent of the costs by installing rooftop solar cells.

The Climate Agency can give each applicant a commitment of up to NOK 3 million.

– Marit Via says that the potential of solar energy is huge, and it is used very poorly in both Norway and Oslo.

Then there will be less controversy about it.

-Surfaces cannot be used for anything else. We can install solar cells there without having the violent conflicts that we see with a number of other forms of energy, including wind energy.

Less support than before

But in one area, the new arrangement is worse than the old arrangement.

Previously, housing associations and condominiums could cover 35 per cent of the investment. The new support amounts to 20 percent. Shouldn't it be higher?

-You can say that. But Enova has its own 30 percent support scheme, and then we launch ours with 20 percent, so for some the support can be up to 50 percent, says Marit Via.

– But Enova support is very difficult to get, and that's the whole problem, isn't it?

– Some will probably get both, and then many will get 20 percent, which we think will be enough for more to make this investment.

It can save 3-4 million

Of course he would like more, but a 20 percent subsidy might be enough for him to be able to defend the investment to residents, says Torbjørn Jevsen, from the apartment in Itterstad.

– If we get it, we will have saved it in ten years. In 20 years, he says, we may have saved three to four million in electricity costs.

There's no disadvantage to also saving money on renewable, green electricity, says City Councilman Erik Leigh Solberg (H).

– Living in Oslo today is very expensive. Anything that can contribute to making it more accessible in everyday life is a positive thing, he says.

Climate Fund

The money comes from the Oslo Municipality Climate Fund. There will be NOK 520 million after the city council tomorrow puts an additional NOK 70 million into Oslo's revised budget.

Providing more targeted solar support to housing associations and co-owners was an important requirement of KrF in the budget negotiations.

– In Oslo, more than 70 percent of the population lives in housing associations and housing units, including me.

– If we want to achieve ambitious climate goals, it must be easy to choose environmentally friendly solutions, says Matthias Slitholm from KrF.

SV proposal in the city council

SV is also satisfied. They visited Øvre Sogn Borettslag with NRK this spring.

The housing association in Gustad abandoned its garage roof solar project for the same reason as the apartment in Itterstad.

SV has already proposed to the city council to dust off the solar subsidies provided by the Oslo municipality.

– This is a huge victory for the environment and for Wallace. Solar energy in Oslo is a baby egg. We are working to reduce emissions, electricity bills and interventions into Norwegian nature at the same time,” says Oslo SV environmental policy spokesman Ola Wolf Elvold.