Wind Power Project Faces Setback in Northern Norway

Norway is rejecting an application for an 800-MW windfarm in its northernmost county Finnmark, citing irreversible impact on the wilderness and the traditional indigenous Sami culture.

NVE, the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, on Tuesday announced it is rejecting the application of Grenselandet AS to build and operate the Davvi windfarm in the Lebesby municipality that would have covered an area of 63 square kilometers (24 square miles).

The application is rejected because the project would be located in the middle of one of Norway’s largest wilderness areas, which also has special value for Sami culture and traditional use, NVE said.

“The project will have major, irreversible impacts on Norway’s second largest wilderness area,” said Inga Nordberg, Energy and Licensing Director at NVE.

The company proposing the windfarm project, Grenselandet AS, and other affected stakeholders will be able to provide their input to the regulator’s decision by December 5. Consultation with affected Sami interests is also open, NVE said today.

Despite the rejection of the Davvi windfarm project, the regulator will review and hear input on other wind power and hydropower projects proposed in the Finnmark county, NVE added.

The regulator is assessing many power generation and grid connection projects in Finnmark, giving priority to the best projects, and Davvi is not one of these, NVE’s Nordberg said.

Wind power accounts for about 10% of Norway’s power generation mix, which is dominated by hydropower that represents some 90% of electricity output. Natural gas has a tiny share in the power supply of Western Europe’s largest oil and gas producer.

Norway is also considering the development of offshore wind, but it is betting on floating offshore wind instead of fixed-bottom offshore wind projects.

The Norwegian Energy Ministry in May opened competition for project areas for offshore wind in Utsira Nord outside the coast of Rogaland off Norway’s southwest coast.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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