– I think it is a great shame that there is not enough internet access for the other companies, says Andreas Fritzsønn, who is managing director of Saint-Gobain byggevarer AS. He shows how their factory Gyproc on Øra in Fredrikstad makes plasterboard for the construction industry by spraying plaster mass which is distributed between two layers of paper. Andreas Fritzsønn thinks it is a shame that not all businesses in the area are allowed to be more environmentally friendly. Photo: Lars Håkon Pedersen / news Before they become finished plaster wall panels, they need to dry well. It used to happen by burning natural gas, but now with electricity like a hairdryer. The French owners of Saint-Gobain already pushed in 2018 to electrify the factory. But capacity in the network was crucial. – It could happen because we were allowed to. The grid in the immediate area allowed us to electrify the factory, says Fritzsønn. Became fully electric Earlier this year, they opened the factory in Fredrikstad, where drying heat is produced with electricity. According to the company, this saves 23,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions a year, or emissions equivalent to 14,000 cars. The company in Fredrikstad produces plasterboard for industry. Photo: Lars Håkon Pedersen / news The conversion to electricity in this one company has reduced the total greenhouse gas emissions in Fredrikstad municipality by 5 percent. But several companies throughout Eastern Norway that want to convert to electricity instead of gas in production are now being refused applications for more power. General manager Kjell Arne Græsdal of the Fredrikstad business association is happy that the companies want to electrify, but not so happy that they have to wait for years. Photo: Lars Håkon Pedersen / news – Climate change is in full swing. But we are now in a situation where the network has not been developed, says general manager of Fredrikstad business association Kjell Arne Græsdal. It prevents the green shift. – We simply lack capacity from the main grid down to Øra, says Græsdal. Transformer station and cable network At Hasle in Sarpsborg is one of the large transformer stations in Eastern Norway. The transformer stations are large hubs, where power comes in and is distributed further to the local industrial areas. This and several others must be strengthened and rebuilt before the companies can get the electricity they need. The Hasle transformer station in Sarpsborg must be rebuilt so that more companies in the Nedre Glomma region will get power for the green shift. Photo: Lars Håkon Pedersen / news From Hasle and south towards Fredrikstad and the Øra industrial area, it is the network owners Elvia and Norgesnett that must expand the capacity. Elvia replies that parts of the network will be reinforced in the next three years, while some will take much longer. – A preliminary project has been initiated to further strengthen the network from Statnett’s facility at Hasle and down along the eastern side of Glomma. This project can be realized in the period 2030-2040, writes Ingeborg Tennes, who is head of communications at Elvia. It is almost 20 years in the future. At the same time, there is a good dialogue between all parties to create a stronger network as soon as possible, and temporary solutions are being sought. Will take time The challenges therefore apply not only to the industrial county of Østfold, but to the whole of Eastern Norway. There is not enough power or capacity on the network for all the companies that want it. Nor will it be for a long time. This despite the fact that Statnett is trying to find a solution to the problem. – It will take time to put in place the capacity needed in the network. What we have to do is through dialogue with those who request electricity and see if we can find any opportunities for earlier connection, says Anne Sofie Risnes, regional director of Statnett. Announced challenge It was at the end of April that the government presented its plan for how we are going to develop and make better use of the power grid in Norway. Already in May, Nelfo criticized the government that the action plan was too flimsy. – It is like saying that we are going to build a lot of cars, but we have no roads that the cars can drive on, and we have no plan to build out the roads, Andreas Strømsheim-Aamodt told news in May.
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Exploded capacity on the power grid – can’t operate climate-friendly – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
