Data Center Power Industry News: Norway Pauses Grid Access

Norway’s Statnett Suspends Data Center Grid Reservations Ahead of New Licensing Scheme

OSLO, Norway — November 9, 2026 — Statnett, Norway’s national grid operator, temporarily halted reservations of grid connections for new data centers on Monday while the government develops a licensing scheme to regulate the industry’s expansion. The move affects the Data Center Power Infrastructure Market at a time when connection requests exceed the country’s existing capacity.

The suspension will remain in effect until the licensing scheme is in place, Reuters reported, and no end date was specified. Torgeir Micaelsen, Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance, said at a press conference that the aim is to strengthen control over data center growth and secure the facilities the country needs.

Energy Minister Terje Aasland said Statnett has received connection applications for 26,000 MW of new capacity so far this year, which exceeds Norway’s current capacity. Data centers account for 75% of those requests.

The Data Center Power Infrastructure Market size was USD 34.80 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach USD 104.96 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 13.05% from 2026 to 2035, according to Next Move Strategy Consulting.

Key Highlights:

• Scope of the pause: Reservations of grid connections for new data centers are suspended until a government licensing scheme takes effect.

• Licensing priorities: The scheme would favor data centers serving defense, police and emergency preparedness, health services, and critical infrastructure such as the mobile network and the financial system. National artificial intelligence needs would continue to be supported.

• Access restrictions: Access to land and electricity would be restricted for global cloud companies and cryptocurrency firms.

• Cost conditions: New data centers should pay for the grid costs they cause and may be required to build their own gas-fired power plants, including carbon capture and storage.

Analyst Insight:

According to analysts at Next Move Strategy Consulting, the Norwegian measure shows that grid availability is becoming a gating factor for data center development, with connection requests of 26,000 MW exceeding existing national capacity. NMSC analysts note that a requirement for operators to cover grid costs and potentially build their own generation could raise demand for dedicated power infrastructure, including on-site generation and power distribution equipment.

Industry Outlook:

The licensing framework has not yet been published, and Reuters did not report a timetable for its introduction. Operators planning new facilities in Norway will need to wait for the prioritization criteria before securing grid capacity. The final design of the scheme will determine how Norway balances data center growth against power system capacity.

Source: Reuters via Cyprus Mail

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Prepared By: Sanyukta Deb