Undeveloped grid installation
An undeveloped grid installation is a power line, transformer station or other electricity grid facility that has been applied for or licensed, but not yet physically built. The route exists on paper, not on the ground, and it can appear as a new power line corridor through a development area several years after the first licence decision was made.
The Norwegian power grid has three levels. The transmission grid (300 to 420 kV) is operated by Statnett and connects large power plants and consumption centres. The regional grid (66 to 132 kV) and the distribution grid (lower voltages) are operated by around 60 local grid companies. Building and operating grid installations requires a licence from Norges vassdrags- og energidirektorat (NVE), the Norwegian water resources and energy directorate, under energiloven, the Energy Act. The licensing process can take several years: first notification, then an environmental impact assessment and public consultation, then the licence decision, and finally an environmental, transport and construction plan (MTA) before building starts. Throughout this period, the installation has the status "not yet built".
For a property developer, this matters because new power lines trigger building and height restrictions. Along a high-voltage line there is typically a building prohibition zone set by the grid company, and it can be 12 to 40 metres wide depending on the voltage level. The zones follow from the grid company's terms and the municipal planning, not from forskrift om elektriske forsyningsanlegg (FEF), the regulations on electrical supply installations, which govern the technical safety requirements for the installation itself. A power line built straight through a planned development area can therefore reduce the permitted development density significantly or move the building lines on a property you have already bought. The same applies to transformer stations, which have their own safety zones and can trigger consideration zones in planning.
NVE publishes maps of both existing and planned installations, and the licence database shows the status of each case. For projects that depend on a grid connection, it is also worth clarifying reserved capacity with the grid company early: a lack of capacity can stop a development on its own.
In Placepoint, planned and existing grid installations are shown as energy map layers together with building prohibition zones along power lines.
How the dataset appears in the map
The dataset is part of the map layer Buildings as Developer activity:
From Placepoint's dictionary: Undeveloped grid installation
More information: NVE: the power grid, NVE: licence cases
English: Undeveloped electric grid plot.
Frequently asked questions
What is an undeveloped grid installation?
An undeveloped grid installation is a planned electricity grid or other grid infrastructure that has been licensed, but not yet physically built. It can limit access to the capacity that developers in the area need.
Why is an undeveloped grid installation relevant for property developers?
If a development project depends on grid capacity that is not yet in place, the project can be delayed. A grid connection is a precondition for a construction start permit and a completion certificate.
Who is responsible for building the electricity grid in Norway?
Grid companies with a licence from Norges vassdrags- og energidirektorat (NVE) are responsible for building and operating the distribution grid. Statnett operates the central grid. The grid company in the area is the point of contact for capacity questions.
What do you do if the grid capacity you need is missing?
The developer must contact the grid company early to clarify the capacity situation and order a grid connection. If capacity is missing, the developer can contribute to funding grid expansion.
Can I see planned grid installations in Placepoint?
Yes, Placepoint shows infrastructure data including existing and planned grid installations as map layers, which gives developers early insight into the grid capacity situation in a planning area.