Increased consumption on Troll dependent on new line capacity
(9/17/2010)
In its comments regarding increased power supply to the Troll A platform, Statnett has requested that a licence should be contingent on new power lines in the area, as the capacity in Hordaland County is already strained on cold days, and additional consumption would worsen the situation.
Statoil has applied for a licence for two pairs of DC interconnectors and one new AC interconnector to the Troll A platform to increase the platform’s consumption. Statoil is planning a 45MW increase in consumption starting in 2015, increasing each year to 120 MW in 2018.
Statnett and BKK Nett are working together to improve the strained energy supply situation in the region. An increase in consumption would further reduce the security of supply, compared with the current situation.
Consequently, Statnett has requested that the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) impose conditions for the Troll A construction licence. Statnett has requested that a licence for connection of the new facilities is postponed until the following facilities are in place:
- Sima – Samnanger which will secure the main power supply to Hordaland County
- Mongstad – Kollsnes and Modalen – Mongstad to secure sufficient grid capacity from Modalen, Evanger and Samnanger westwards to Bergen and the petroleum activities.
”We would like to emphasise that capacity on the power lines into this area and towards Bergen is strained, even with the current winter consumption. It would be necessary to strengthen the grid and implement the planned measures even if there were no plans to increase consumption on Troll,” says Vice President, Communications, Tor Inge Akselsen of Statnett.
Last winter this resulted in an increased risk of power outages for the entire area lasting almost 1 400 hours. The corresponding figure for Bergen was about 3 000 hours. Increased consumption in the region will further reduce security of supply. The power stations in the region have limited water storage capacity. The facilities covered by the licence application will consume a lot of power also during the winter months. This consumption increase would result in more power having to be generated. This would increase the risk of low water levels in the region’s reservoirs – as was the case last winter. Regional production would then decrease and the need for power imports to the region would increase significantly. There is not sufficient grid capacity to handle this, and in Statnett’s opinion it would not be prudent to allow major new consumption units until new power lines are in place.
