Central Norway (Nord-Trøndelag, Sør-Trøndelag and Møre og Romsdal) has an energy deficit of approx. 7 TWh (terawatt hours) over a normal year. 7 TWh corresponds to the annual consumption of 400,000 single-family homes with an average consumption of 20,000 kWh per year. When the energy deficit becomes so large, it means that the existing grid will be burdened even more and there will be a higher risk of faults. Shortage of capacity for new power generation
In Sogn og Fjordane and Sunnmøre the grid no longer has the capacity to absorb new power generation, i.e., small-scale hydropower plants and new renewable energy production will not be realised until new transmission lines are built. In Sogn og Fjordane alone, approx. 100 small-scale hydropower projects are awaiting processing by the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE). A new line between Ørskog and Fardal is the measure that is most robust for meeting future production and consumption changes in the region.