Wind power not to blame for rising Norwegian grid fees, analysis shows

In a debate piece, Jonas Kristiansen Nøland claims wind power pushes up Norway’s grid fees, citing his own report that compares wind to nuclear costs when network expenses are included. The author assumes each new kilowatt of wind requires an equivalent kilowatt of hydro backup and separate grid extensions, a premise the article says is unrealistic. Existing hydro capacity already covers current demand, and wind farms can be sited near consumption centers or near hydro plants, allowing shared grid use.

Statnett, the system operator, has conducted a comparable analysis and concluded that nuclear would not replace planned grid upgrades, so its impact on fees would be minimal. Multiple studies also indicate nuclear is several times more expensive than wind, while wind benefits from a dedicated resource tax and nuclear receives substantial subsidies abroad. The article concludes that the primary driver of rising grid fees is the need to modernise Norway’s aging electricity network and accommodate future demand, not wind power.