Measure 1. Phasing out of oil-fired heating of buildings
The use of heating oil and kerosene for the heating of buildings was prohibited on 1 January 2020. The Agency for Urban Environment follows up the ban as regards private buildings and commercial buildings, and has authority to grant dispensations from the ban. The Agency for Urban Environment is monitoring the intentions behind the regulations and associated guide, and has adopted a restrictive approach to the granting of dispensations from the ban.
Measure 2. Phasing out of fossil oil and gas in district heating (peak load)
Fortum Oslo Varme AS aims to phase out the remaining use of fossil heating oil and LNG as a peak load in the production of district heating under normal operating conditions. The company is actively working to identify suitable alternatives, such as electricity, bio-oils, pellets and liquid biogas. The average proportion of LNG over the past three years has been 1.5 %.
Measure 3. Extraction of landfill gas
The aim of this measure is to increase extraction of landfill gas (methane) from the landfill sites at Grønmo and Rommen. In 2022, various operational measures are planned to ensure efficient collection of landfill gas.
Measure 4. National requirement for sale of 24.5 % biofuel
The Product Regulations set out requirements regarding the blending of biofuels in petrol and diesel sold for road transport purposes in Norway (the sales requirement). As of 1 January 2021, the national sales requirement for biofuels is 24.5 %, with a secondary requirement for 9 % advanced biofuel[1] (including double-counting of advanced biofuel). The Norwegian government has announced that there will be a further increase in the sales requirement in the coming years.
Measure 5. Road toll payment system
The road toll payment system helps to reduce road transport, promote more climate- and environmentally friendly transport and contribute to the funding of infrastructure, especially for public transport and cycling. Changes in the road toll ring that could give rise to reductions in GHG emissions from 2022 include a reduction in the price charged for electric cars in 2021. Biogas vehicles will be exempt provided that the Norwegian Public Roads Administration has established the necessary practical arrangements. The road toll payment system will be renegotiated during 2022.
Measure 6. Zero emissions/sustainable biofuels in the municipality’s vehicle fleet
The plan was for all vehicles in the City of Oslo’s vehicle fleet (cars, vans and heavy vehicles) to be either zero-emission or powered by sustainable biofuel (ideally biogas, but biodiesel is also permissible) during 2020. As of the first quarter of 2021, the total renewable proportion within the light and heavy vehicle fleet was estimated to be 87 %. The transition away from fossil to zero-emission and biogas-powered municipal vehicles will continue in 2022. Biodiesel will gradually be phased out where suitable, competitive alternatives are available. There is a proposal to set aside NOK 124 million, in addition to the NOK 50 million that was previously allocated during the term of the economic plan, to replace and acquire more refuse collection vehicles to ensure the efficient stable collection of waste. The refuse collection vehicles that are acquired will be powered by biogas, which entails an additional cost. It is proposed that NOK 50 million be set aside in 2022 for further replacements of municipal heavy vehicles and machinery. It is also proposed that the loan scheme for the districts be continued in an annual amount of NOK 20 million in 2024 and 2025 for the ongoing replacement of the vehicle fleet in the districts.
Measure 7. Better cycling facilities
Amongst the most important instruments for making Oslo a cycling city for all is an interlinked cycle path network. In addition to the new-build and upgrading of cycling infrastructure, the municipality will prioritise operation and maintenance, research and development, along with communication and campaigns. The City Government will set aside NOK 13 million in 2022 and NOK 16 million annually for the remainder of the economic plan period to boost capacity in the work on new and upgraded cycling infrastructure.
Measure 8. Zero-emission taxis by 2025
The measure is based on regulations concerning environmental requirements for taxis in Oslo, which require the taxi industry to use zero-emission vehicles (City Council Proposition 255/20). The municipality is facilitating the transition by establishing ordinary charging infrastructure, various pilot schemes for fast charging, facilitating priority for zero-emission vehicles at taxi stands, dedicated charging infrastructure for zero-emission taxis at stands, and subsidies through the Climate and Energy Fund for home charging for taxi drivers. The City Government is proposing the allocation of NOK 5 million for the establishment of six new charging points for electric taxis in 2022.
Measure 9. Zero-emission goods and service transport vehicles
This measure aims to reduce emissions from vans in Oslo by accelerating the transition to electric vans. The reduction in emissions shown in Table 2.2a concerns impacts over and above what is already included in the projection. This is a package of measures which comprises a range of instruments. At the end of March 2021, electric vans accounted for just under 8 % of the total number of vans registered in Oslo. The City of Oslo is working to reserve business parking spaces within Ring 1 for electric vans. In 2022, an additional 25 business parking spaces will be reserved for electric goods and service transport vehicles. A total of 109 out of 123 business parking spaces within Ring 1 will then be reserved for zero-emission goods and service vehicles. Two zones have been established with loading and unloading stations reserved for zero-emission goods transport, which will be evaluated during 2021. Based on the evaluation, an escalation plan will be drawn up for the re-prioritisation of loading and unloading areas within Ring 1. In 2022, 14 charging points for goods and service transport will be established; see more about appropriations for charging in the introduction.
All entities are responsible for applying the City of Oslo’s standard climate and environmental requirements in the procurement of transport or construction. This will help to accelerate the transition to electric vans. The municipality has two subsidy schemes for charging electric vans through the Climate and Energy Fund, charging infrastructure for businesses and fast chargers for electric vans respectively. Electric vans can also be parked free of charge in resident parking areas. The municipality is working to communicate the benefits of electric vans and other subsidy schemes. Through the Zero Emissions Fund, Enova has established a subsidy scheme for purchases of electric vans and associated normal charging.
Measure 10. Zero-emission buses in public transport
The City Government failed to achieve its target for fossil-free public transport in 2020, largely as a result of the uncertainty created by the government over whether biodiesel over and above the sales requirement would have a climate effect. Ruter is aiming for zero-emission public transport by the end of 2028. As regards Oslo, Ruter is proposing virtually zero-emission operation at the start of new bus contracts, so that all city buses in Oslo are electric by the end of 2023. As Oslo Metro trains and trams are already electric, the replacement of buses will be key to the measure’s effectiveness.
Measure 11. Zero emissions/sustainable biofuel in the transport of bulk materials and waste from construction sites
Since 2020, the City of Oslo has required the fossil-free transport of bulk materials to and from construction sites in its own projects. In addition, there are rewards for using electricity, hydrogen and biogas, as well as minimising the distances travelled. All relevant agencies stipulate requirements in new contracts where applicable. The municipality is also working to reduce the quantities of bulk materials that are transported around Oslo. This is partly being achieved by:
Raising awareness amongst the City of Oslo’s buyers of bulk transport services concerning how bulk materials can be reused and exploring new solutions and/or logistics through a municipal working group and Pådriv in Hovinbyen:
- In all new planning matters where it is relevant, the Agency for Planning and Building Services asks proposers to present an account of issues relating to the handling of bulk materials
- Breaking down barriers in regulations and acquiring land for local bulk material handling through planning processes
- Exploring the scope to ensure that land is set aside for bulk material handling
Measure 12. Pilot city for zero-emission heavy vehicles
The measure “Pilot city for zero-emissions heavy transport” aims to reduce emissions from trucks in Oslo by accelerating the transition from diesel to electricity, hydrogen or biogas. This is a package of measures which comprises a range of instruments. From 2021, a subsidy scheme for charging infrastructure for electric trucks will be established under the Climate and Energy Fund, as a supplement to Enova’s support schemes. The City of Oslo is working to ensure predictability and appropriate framework conditions for the transport industry inside the road toll ring. The joint imposition of requirements will help to ensure that all vehicles used to deliver goods or services to the City of Oslo will use climate-friendly fuel technologies. The City of Oslo will pursue a dialogue with the business community regarding the imposition of environmental requirements for transport in procurements through the Næring for klima (Business for climate) network.
Furthermore, the municipality will establish charging infrastructure for heavy vehicles; see the introduction for more information on grants for charging infrastructure. The City of Oslo will also facilitate energy stations that offer charging and refuelling with renewable fuels, such as biogas, hydrogen and fast charging. It will also continue the measure to exclusively reserve loading and unloading areas for zero-emission goods vehicles. During 2022, energy stations will be established at Ryen and Kjelsrud, which will supply biogas and hydrogen respectively. In addition, both stations will offer fast charging. In 2021 and 2022, the City of Oslo will conduct an information campaign in cooperation with Viken County Council aimed at heavy transport operators, with a particular focus on small businesses. The Agency for Real Estate and Urban Renewal is currently tasked with acquiring land for climate infrastructure, such as energy stations, bulk material management and freight consolidation centres. The Port of Oslo is planning to install fast charging infrastructure for heavy vehicles at Grønlia in 2021/2022.
Measure 13. Zero emissions/sustainable biofuel in municipal machinery
All the City of Oslo’s own construction machinery will switch to fossil-free fuel and eventually zero-emission solutions. In the revised budget for 2021, NOK 50 million has been allocated to accelerate this transition. The City Government is proposing that the provision be continued in 2022 and is setting aside NOK 50 million. In addition, NOK 8 million will be allocated annually from 2022 to 2024, along with NOK 6.8 million in 2025 for the replacement of the machinery and vehicle fleet of the Agency for Cemeteries and Burials.
Measure 14. Zero-emission public transport – ferries
Ruter’s electrification of ferry traffic began in 2019 with the Oslo-Nesodden route, and the Nesodden ferries have been electrically operated since April 2020. The existing island ferries will be replaced by new electric ferries in the winter of 2021/2022.
Measure 15. Establishment of shore power
Shore power facilities provide an opportunity to supply the power required by ships when docked using zero-emission solutions rather than fossil diesel. All international ferries serving Oslo have used shore power since the first quarter of 2020. The establishment of shore power for cement ships docked at the northern Sjursøy pier has entered the final phase and is scheduled to become operational during autumn 2021. The Port of Oslo has applied to Enova for investment support for shore power for container ships in Sydhavna port.