Connection to the grid

Updated: 10.01.2019

Author: Oskar Vågerö

The owner of a licence for operating the grid – hereinafter grid operator – is obliged to connect a power plant to its grid (§ 3-4 par. 1 Energy Act). This obligation also applies if the construction of the new connection requires the development of the grid (§ 3-4 par. 1 Energy Act).  The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate may grant exemptions from this obligation, if the measure is not socially feasible (§ 3-4 par. 2 Energy Act and § 3-4 par. 5 Energy Regulation).  

The obliged party is the grid operator, who has a license for grid installations where power generating plant can be connected to most efficiently (§ 3-4 par. 1 Energy Regulation).  

Disputes are resolved by the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (§ 3-4 par. 1 Energy Regulation).  

Procedure

Competent authority

Norwegian Transmission system operator Statnett

Deadlines

The grid operator is obliged to submit a schedule for conducting the grid connection (§ 3-4 par. 2 Energy Regulation).

Priority to renewable energy

  • Priority to renewable energy
  • Non-discrimination

The grid operator shall act neutral in relation to the parties in the electricity market (§ 6-1 Energy Regulation).  

Capacity limits (quantitative criteria)

The connection obligation includes a duty to plan, apply for a license for and invest in new grid facilities without undue delay. In case of necessary grid development, the grid operator is obliged to present a realistic and indicative timetable for the grid connection (§ 3-4 par. 4 Energy Regulation).

Distribution of costs

Plant operator

According to the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate the costs of the grid connection are borne by the plant operator.

Norway
Electricity

Further information

  • Norges vassdrags- og energidirektorat (NVE) – Norwegian Water Resource and Energy Directorate
  • + 47 22 95 95 95
  • NVE website
  • nve(at)nve.no

Basic information on legal sources