The case in summary: – The oldest power cables between Norway and Denmark are about to reach retirement age. – The Center Party sees this as an opportunity to reduce exposure to foreign countries. – Statnett believes it would be rational to reinvest in the two oldest Skagerrak connections. – The government has not made a decision about whether the cables should be replaced or not. – Norway has exchanged power with the Nordic countries and Europe since the 1960s, but parts of the system have become more controversial in recent years. – It is uncertain how much political capital the Labor Party will spend on the case, and how much the Center Party will oppose. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. After fifty years in service, the oldest power cables between Norway and Denmark are almost exhausted. What now? According to the Center Party, the retirement-ready cables are a good opportunity to reduce exposure to foreign countries. At the national meeting in March, the party decided that two of the Skagerrak cables can die in peace in 2026, without succession. But last week Statnett declared that it would be “rational for the Norwegian power system to reinvest the two oldest Skagerrak connections”. At the same time, they announced a professional investigation and that they were in dialogue with the Danish Energinet about the way forward. According to Storting representative for the Center Party, Per Olaf Lundteigen, this is a sure sign that the process of replacing the cables is already underway. – Completely contrary to what is stated in the Hurdalsplattforma, he says to Klassekampen. The Minister of Energy: – No decision has been taken yet The Government canceled the planned cable to Scotland (NorthConnect) last year. The news was first announced by the Center Party, and not Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap), who has historically been more positive about power exchanges with Europe. Aasland denies to news that the signal from Statnett is the first step towards renewing the “marriage promises” to Denmark. – These are two power cables that are approaching 50 years old and it is important that Statnett works out what will happen to them going forward. I want to emphasize that no decision has been taken in this case, he says to news. He points out that Statnett will also consider the so-called “zero alternative”, where the cables are not replaced. He has the following greeting for Lundteigen: – I remind you that this government has said no to the NorthConnect international cable, in line with the government’s platform. It is a clear example that we stand by what we have said. About the Skagerrak connections Statnett and Energinet operate four electricity connections between Norway and Denmark, known as the Skagerrak connections. Two of the cables, Skagerrak 1 and 2, are nearing the end of their technical life and Statnett and Energinet have decided to consider their reinvestment. Statnett sends a message with a proposal for a resolution program to Norway’s Water and Energy Directorate (NVE), which sends it to a public hearing. After the consultation, NVE finally determined the resolution programme. Statnett then prepares a consequence assessment and decides, if necessary, to apply for a license for a reinvestment. The Ministry of Energy makes a final decision after any license application. Source: Statnett – The time for new international cables is over, says Finance Minister and Sp-leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum. Here together with Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland, who is not as categorical. Photo: NTB – Completely unheard of, Norway has been exchanging power with the Nordic countries and Europe since the 1960s. In recent years, parts of the system have been more controversial, not least the “England cable”, which came into operation in 2022. The opening coincided with higher electricity prices, which triggered crisis measures from the government to curb the “price contagion” from the continent. Statnett has published an analysis which says that the cables affect prices in Norway by approximately 10 per cent. The energy policy tension between the governing party the Center Party and the Labor Party has also been visible in connection with the implementation of the EU’s renewables directive. In May, the conflict came to the fore when the European Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson sent an “angry” e-mail to the Ministry of Energy stating that Norway had to speed up the implementation of the directive from 2018. – Completely unheard of, acknowledged Marit Arnstad (Sp). – It is unheard of that he will soon come with threats that Norway will have to build more cables and join the EU’s energy market. The EEA-friendly Labor Party, for its part, is positive about the Renewables Directive, and also has a goal of reducing the queue of EU directives that are “bars” against the Norwegian border. So far, it is uncertain how much political capital the Labor Party will use to push through the directive, and how much the Center Party will oppose. A third option is for the case to be further postponed. This is how Norway has become more closely connected to Europe with power cables.Norway is part of a power market that is connected to Sweden, Denmark, Great Britain, Germany, Poland, Russia, the Netherlands and the Baltic countries with cables. The aim is to even out price differences and to strengthen energy security. A high-voltage power line transmits power from Sør-Trøndelag to Jämtland in Sweden for the first time. Since then, several lines have been built to Sweden and Finland. The submarine cables Skagerrak 1 and 2 were installed in the summer of 1976 and 1977. The transmission capacity was 500 megawatts. Since then, Norway has received two new cables to Denmark in 1993 and 2014. The power market was opened up with the Energy Act. Prices for power were to be governed by supply and demand. Sweden and Norway formed a joint power exchange, which Finland and Denmark later joined. The Nordned cable between Norway and the Netherlands will open in April 2008. The capacity is 700 megawatts. The fourth cable, Skagerrak 4, opened between Kristiansand and Tjele in Denmark at the turn of the year. Then the transmission capacity between the countries increased from 1,000 to 1,700 megawatts. The Solberg government decides to build a cable to Germany and Great Britain, each of 1400 megawatts. In December, trial operation of Nordlink, which runs between southern Norway and Germany, began. Since March 2021, the cable has been in normal operation. The capacity is 1400 megawatts. The cable between Suldal in Rogaland and Newcastle in the UK opened in October 2021. The transmission capacity is 1400 megawatts. Show more – Not relevant to renew these cables In total, 17 Norwegian exchange cables for electricity have a total transmission capacity of 8,500 MW. In addition to discussing whether the Skagerrak connections SK1 and SK2 should be replaced, the government must consider whether the transmission capacity should be increased. Confederation leader in Industri Energi, Frode Alfheim, put pressure on the government already a year ago. – We expect the government to say clearly to Statnett that it is not relevant to renew these cables. Statnett and Energinet operate four power connections between Norway and Denmark, known as the Skagerrak connections. Photo: Statnett Thomas Ystrøm Åslaug Haga, head of Fornybar NoregEuropa develops large amounts of renewable energy, and these cables are our access to that power. We will of course have to wait for the consequences of the report to Statnett, but there is already a great deal to suggest that we should replace these cables. Stein Eide / news Trygve Slagsvold Vedum, Finance Minister The Center Party believes there is no reason to renew those concessions. That is our clear primary position. We believe that the time has passed for large, new international cables. Petter Larsson / news Terje Aasland, Minister of Energy It is not a matter of course that we should invest in these cables. Ihne Pedersen Sofie Marhaug, RaudtNew cables will increase price contagion and give us poorer control over power. Statnett Christian Færø, director of StatnettMellomlandssambanda is an important part of the future’s power system, and contributes to better utilization of the Nordic and European power system. International relations must provide mutual benefit for the countries that are linked together. Norway is moving towards a weakened power balance, and the alternative to exchanging power with other countries is to develop more power and grids in Norway. Published 30.09.2024, at 16.05
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Uncertain whether the government will replace outdated power cables between Norway and Denmark – news Vestland
