Norway curbs new data centres: Statnett stops connection reservations until a licensing scheme favours critical services

What changed

Reuters reports that Norway's government said on 9 November it will curb the growth of data centres to avoid an energy deficit and higher electricity prices. Grid operator Statnett has temporarily stopped reserving grid connections for new data centres until a government licensing scheme is in place. Digitalisation minister Torgeir Micaelsen said the scheme will favour data centres serving defence, police and emergency services, health and other critical infrastructure, and will restrict land and power for global cloud companies and cryptocurrency firms. Energy minister Terje Aasland said Statnett received connection requests for 26,000 MW of new capacity so far in 2026, more than Norway's current capacity, with data centres making up 75% of requests. The government said new data centres should pay the grid costs they cause and may be asked to build their own gas-fired plants with carbon capture. The licensing scheme's details have not been published yet.

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