- I would like to extend a big thank you to the local population, landowners, and local authorities affected by this development for their cooperation. At the same time, I congratulate them on a new power line that will contribute to increased electricity security, facilitate more electricity production, and support new business activity, says Christian Færø, Executive Vice President at Statnett.
An Important First Step Toward Increased Grid Capacity and Enabling New Production and Consumption in Western Norway
Norway has a decentralized power system, where historically electricity production and consumption have been developed close to each other. Therefore, there has not been a significant need for large power lines to transmit electricity from north to south.
- The power system is undergoing major changes, and the new power line between Aurland and Sogndal is an important step in strengthening the grid’s north-south capacity. As of today, we have a continuous electricity grid at the highest voltage level from Finnmark to Agder, says Færø.
The existing power line between Aurland and Sogndal has been a bottleneck within the NO5 price area. The new line, along with upgrades to the substations in Sogndal and Aurland, will increase grid capacity southward across the Sognefjord and facilitate increased electricity production in the area around and north of the fjord.
The capacity increase across the fjord will vary between 250 and 500 MW due to thermal restrictions on the other line southward from Sogndal toward the Bergen area. Other restrictions in the grid southward in NO5, such as Mauranger–Blåfalli, and in Gudbrandsdalen (NO1), will still limit north-south transmission.
- We are working purposefully to strengthen the north-south grid and have begun reinforcement from Sogndal toward Bergen. In addition, major efforts are underway to strengthen the grid through Gudbrandsdalen and in the Bergen area, says Færø.
More information about the projects can be found in the Innlandet Area Plan and the Bergen and Haugalandet Area Plan.
Dismantling of the Old Power Line to Begin This Autumn
The new power line between Aurland and Sogndal replaces the old line that runs close to the new one. Work to remove the old line will begin this autumn.
- Minimizing land use is a guiding principle when we plan grid reinforcements. Here, we built parallel to the old line to avoid new routes, and by dismantling the old line, nature can reclaim the area, concludes Færø.