Several municipalities in the country already have a large deficit of power. The problem is expected to get bigger in the coming years. In the north of the country, the power situation has been much discussed. Among other things, Statnett has said that they are concerned that northern Nordland will face special challenges with power shortages and rising energy prices within a few years. But the North Sea municipality of Aure also lacks power. Now, together with Heim municipality, they have set aside a plot of land for what they hope will become a nuclear power plant in the future. But whether they will be allowed to build at all, they know nothing about. Access to electricity is a growing problem in Norway, something several predict will be dramatic – especially for business and industry. Photo: Annika Byrde / NTB There may be a power deficit In November 2022, Statnett estimated a large increase in power consumption in Norway in the coming years. It could lead to a national power deficit in a few years – as early as 2027. People have tried to propose wind turbines as a solution, among other things, but in several places this has been met with strong resistance. One possible solution, which many believe is controversial, is nuclear power. Therefore, Aure and Heim municipality have now set aside a plot of land for the facility they hope to put in place. They collaborate with the private company Norsk Kjernekraft AS. – This is the first phase to manage to get an investigation program started. Land selection can be something completely different, but we have to start a process, says mayor of Aure Hanne Berit Brekken (Ap). Aure mayor Hanne Berit Brekken believes they will get the nuclear power plant realized sometime in the future. Photo: Marius André Jenssen Stenberg The mayor explains that she believes that nuclear power can be part of the Norwegian energy mix in the future, and that they now want to pave the way to see if the governing authorities can join them in such an idea. – We don’t have nuclear power today, we don’t have a policy that invests aggressively in this as a power source, but that is exactly what we want to challenge, she says. Aure and Heim have now also joined forces with four other municipalities and signed an agreement of intent to establish the interest organization “Norske Kjernekraftkommuner”. The other four municipalities are Vardø, Narvik, Porsgrunn and Halden. The organization will only be established if the relevant municipal councils have accepted it. I don’t think anything will happen before 2040 – Localization is a very important point in running a nuclear power plant, says Ole Christen Reistad. He was formerly head of Norway’s last nuclear reactor, and is now head of the Department for Environmental Safety and Radiation Protection at the Department of Energy Engineering. Ole Christen Reistad believes that it will be many years before nuclear power becomes possible to realize in Norway. Photo: Odin Omland / news He explains that it is difficult to know if the location is right now. – It is a possible place for several to start, but you don’t really know what the requirements are for this now. – Do you think the municipalities will realize their wish for a nuclear power plant? – There is a lot that needs to happen and be put in place before this is realised. For us, it doesn’t look like anything will be realized before 2040, almost anyway, he says. Will get started Jonny Hesthammer, who is the day-to-day manager of Norsk Kjernekraft AS, says that the plot will be the first of many steps in the process. The next step is to send a notification about the expansion program to the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. – It is something they have to deal with and decide on, he says. – How can you choose a plot of land when you don’t know the guidelines? – One could wait until there was a political debate about nuclear power in Norway, but then we would be wasting several years. By starting the process now, we are forcing a reaction, he replies. Aure mayor Hanne Berit Brekken has not taken a position that nuclear power is the only good solution for the municipality, but says that something must be done to obtain more power. – In any case, I don’t want to be the politician that people are talking about in ten years because I didn’t do anything. My goal is to make an effort to ensure that we get the power we need in the future, she says. Not relevant for Norway State Secretary in the Ministry of Oil and Energy, Elisabeth Sæther, says that the municipalities are free to set aside an area, but that the government believes that current nuclear power technology is not a good alternative for Norway. – It is expensive, has major problems with radioactive waste and we do not have the expertise to operate nuclear power in Norway, she says. State Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Elisabeth Sæther. Photo: Lena Marja Myrskog / news – Could it be relevant in the future? – We will not close the door to the fact that in 2050 there will be a breakthrough in nuclear power technology, therefore I do not want to be firm about where we will be then. She adds that she agrees that Norway needs more power, but that they are currently focusing on renewable sources such as wind power, hydropower and offshore wind.
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Land set aside for a nuclear power plant, but do not know if they will be allowed to build
