– When there is electricity, it is catastrophic, says Torfinn Krogstad from Meråker in Trøndelag. In a disused factory premises, the start-up of new industry is planned 16 years after the smelter was shut down. The problem is that they lack electricity. There is no free space in today’s power grid. Everything is in use or reserved. This is the situation across the country. Now all plans for new industry can be dropped in Meråker. – In the worst case, we have to move the facility out of Norway. We have been offered power on good terms in the Middle East, says chairman Christian Landaas of Northern Silicon. Here in Kopperå in Meråker, the smelter was closed down in 2006. Now there could be over 100 new jobs in the industrial area. Photo: Tariq Alisubh Many are refused electricity In the last two years, as many as 70 companies in Norway have been refused to be connected to the electricity grid. Most of the available space has been reserved, Statnett informs 100 companies are waiting in line and waiting for a response, while 300 have agreed to be connected to the network since 2020. This is shown by figures news has received from Statnett. There is a large surplus of electricity. Statnett is now intensifying its work to ensure that electricity can flow better in the power grid and for new industry to receive electricity. – We saw that there would be new green industry and we knew that society must be electrified. What we did not foresee was the insane pace we are now seeing and the desire to establish new industry, says Statnett’s head of communications, Martha Hagerup Nilson. This is what Statnett does. Most of the available capacity in the current power grid and planned transmission grid in Norway is already reserved. Statnett is now intensifying its efforts to make better use of the network and will in future play a clearer role in directing consumption to favorable locations. At the same time, Statnett is in the process of creating ten area plans, which will provide an overview of the situation. It will contribute to a more efficient utilization of the current power grid, and the construction of new grid infrastructure. It may be that it is not operationally sound to be connected to the network now, in which case measures must be investigated and implemented. 70 have received a response that it is not operationally sound to be connected to the power grid now in the period from 2020 until now this autumn. This is not to say that they cannot be connected to the network at a later date. A total of 300 have been approved since 2020, which means that all or parts of planned electricity use can be connected. There are more than 100 waiting for a response. Statnett has invested several tens of billions in the power grid over the past decade, but it is not enough. Source: Statnett Head of Communications at Statnett, Martha Hagerup Nilson, says work is being done to give new industry access to the power grid. Photo: Bent Lindsetmo Offers electricity in the Middle East They are ready to start trial operations to make silicon for solar panels in Kopperå in Meråker. It could create 100 new jobs. – We have already invested a lot of money and have to do something. We are already in the process of finding solutions in the Middle East. It is not possible to sit and wait for us to get power sometime in the next decade, says Christian Landaas, chairman of Northern Silicon. Ideally, they want to be in Meråker. Much of the technology for making silicon was developed here, before the smelter was closed down. Landaas says he is surprised that there is not enough electricity in what is a large hydropower municipality. The reservoirs are overflowing with water, but the network is not developed well enough. Now the company is asking in a letter for an early meeting with Statnett. Much electricity is produced in Meråker and sent out into the power grid to other areas in Trøndelag. There is not enough space in the power grid in Norway and most of the capacity is reserved across the country, Statnett states. Photo: Tariq Alisubh Skebnetid It is also urgent for Meraker Hydrogen, which now only needs electricity to start operations. – It is very unfortunate for the company. If we cannot produce hydrogen in what is a power municipality, then we will probably have to liquidate, says general manager Fredrik Storflor Moen from Meraker Hydrogen. The plan is to make hydrogen for heavy transport, regional buses and industry. They will contribute to the green change of pace and reduce climate emissions. – We need the power and hope that Statnett will come up with a temporary solution so that we can expand the factory in a short time. This was the preliminary answer they received from Statnett in May: Ready to get started: From left, Fredrik Storflor Moen from Meraker Hydrogen shows a drawing of the planned factory. Here together with promoters from Northern Silicon, who are also in the starting pit. Top from left Arvid Inge Sørvik, Christian Landaas and Torfinn Krogstad. Photo: Rita Kleven Meråker municipality is shocked that those who have five hydroelectric plants will not have enough electricity for industry. – Here we have to fight to get the access we need in Meråker, says mayor Kjersti Kjenes from MeråkerTverrpolitische Bygdeliste. Statnett promises an answer shortly. – We are in dialogue with Tensio. We are now looking at measures to connect Meraker Hydrogen to the grid. We hope that we will have a clarification around the turn of the month, says Martha Hagerup Nilson in Statnett. Meråker became a restructuring municipality when the cornerstone factory Elkem Meraker was closed down in 2007. The municipality has around 2,400 inhabitants. Meråker is a large hydropower municipality in Trøndelag. Water overflows in the reservoirs and a lot of electricity is generated. Most of the electricity is sent out by the municipality. Photo: Tariq Alisubh
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Northern Silicon may move from Meråker and to the Middle East if they do not get electricity – news Trøndelag
