Norway pauses new data center grid connections until at least August 2027

Norway has halted new data center developments that need a grid connection while it prepares rules for the sector. The pause does not affect projects that already have approval for a connection or are already connected.

System operator Statnett and the government say the measure is intended to slow the expansion of power-intensive facilities. The government plans to introduce a licensing system for large cloud operators, with priority for data centers serving defense, police and emergency services, health services and other critical infrastructure.

“We want data centers in Norway, but we can’t have all types of data centers,” Digitalization Minister Torgeir Micaelsen said, according to TechRadar. He said the aim is to ensure Norway gets facilities that provide the greatest societal benefit.

Statnett expects the restrictions to remain in place until at least August 2027, saying fluctuating data center loads could destabilize grid operations. It estimates that about 800 MW of data centers are connected, 4.2 GW is reserved and 9.1 GW is in the capacity queue. Requests for connections total about 18 GW, more than a third of Norway’s peak power demand.

Norway has separately imposed a temporary ban on establishing new data centers for cryptocurrency mining. The source reports that Microsoft, Nscale, TikTok through Green Mountain, and CoreWeave have existing or planned facilities in the country.