Anger against the fact that power is allocated to the data center in Sørfold – NRK Nordland

“We think it is crazy to arrange large energy launches when other types of industry and institutions could have gone ahead, which creates ripple effects far greater than what this project provides,” he says. Soda– Fire Director Remy Homan.

Tordentalen comes as a result of Northern DC’s desire to establish a data center in the energy municipality Sørfold in Nordland.

Data centers can be used for many purposes, from creating music and photos in the “cloud” to mining cryptocurrencies.

To do this, two things must be present:

• A plot of land organized for industrial purposes
• Dedicated electricity from the local grid company/statenet

The company recently acquired electricity from Statnett and local grid company Kystnett: 50 MW of power.

This is happening at the same time as companies in Nordland are lining up to get electricity.

Therefore, Holmen believes the power should have gone to projects that generate more jobs than the data center is capable of doing.

The company itself estimated that it would be able to employ 30 people.

– To the north of this area, Al-Aker wants to create several hundred jobs, which they are unable to do due to the lack of electricity. To the south of this area is a green steel plant that can be powered.

In addition, Holmen mentions the aquaculture industry, which could have generated “several hundred jobs” and generated “enormous income for the municipality.”

– We believe that Statnett and Kystnett should prioritize this strength to other projects in the region that are mature and ready to create jobs and multiplier effects.Holmen continues.

NRK attempted to contact the owners of the above-mentioned data center, but was unsuccessful.

70 percent do not get power

On Friday, NHO and LO organized an energy conference in Bodo.

There, the message was crystal clear: more energy must be developed in northern Norway.

The reason is the high demand for electricity.

This is particularly evident in the number of inquiries made to Statnett about being allowed to connect to the electricity grid.

According to a new report from consulting firm Thema, only 30 percent of those who want access to the network actually get reserved capacity.

This number may be higher, as there are many projects that have not reported their needs to NVE and Statnett.

These numbers worry NHO director Ole Eric Almeide.

These are worrying numbers, because we know very well that energy is necessary to ensure low electricity prices and job opportunities.

He fears that the demand for energy is so great that if more energy is not added, many industrial projects in northern Norway will be lost.

– Is it that simple to accelerate energy development in the North?

– No, and we have to take into account that there are many positions and many different opinions. Many are afraid to enter into conflict. That’s why NHO and LO go around talking to several people and finding out how we can achieve this without conflict. But we need energy to move forward in industrial travel, especially in Nordland.

LO leader Peggy Hessen told Følsvik NRK that data centers are also needed in Norway to store data – but they have little left for cryptocurrency mining.

– We at the Football Association are clear that we do not believe we should use our electricity for this.

Mayor: A desirable job

Giselle Hansen (Sp) is the mayor of Sørfold municipality.

Here, the local council practically has to give approval or rejection to the project when it has to decide to regulate the plot of land that the company wants for industrial purposes.

Hansen is positive about the organization.

– In some places, these centers must also exist. I am not a fan of storing data in countries like the USA, Mexico, Brazil and similar places.

He points out that there is a national directive from the government and security authorities that some data must be stored within the borders of Norway.

– There is now a data center knocking on the door, and it is a legal business.

Internet company: – You cannot refuse customers

And through the company online Coastal force It has been allocated data center power.

Managing Director Klaus-Henrik Hvasing says they cannot refuse companies that want to connect to the electricity grid, as long as they are operationally sound.

– The network company has a duty to communicate, whether for withdrawal or feeding into the electricity network. This means that we cannot refuse a small power station to supply power to the grid, or refuse to supply power to a customer if it is operationally sound. There, the energy law is simple and straightforward.

However, there are some standards that an online business must consider.

• Projects that are likely to come to fruition.
• When will they need electricity and how much electricity will be used.
• If two projects are evaluated equally in terms of implementation capacity and progress, priority should be given to existing processes.

In addition, all orders over 1 MW must be approved by Statnett.

50 MW has been allocated for the project in Sørfold.

Statent: – Considered mature enough

– All network companies must deal with all inquiries related to network capacity objectively and impartially. “We are unable to distinguish between type of consumption or production,” Statnett writes in an email.

They were criticized by Holmen.

– Grid capacity has become a limited commodity as a result of companies across the country wanting to electrify or create new industry. In order to ensure that projects with the highest probability of implementation are related to each other, we have introduced merit criteria.

– This capacity has been reserved to Kystnett after they assessed North DC as mature enough to book.

Minister: Priority must be given to existing activities

Earlier this spring, Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland (AFP) spoke about the guidelines in place when it comes to electricity allocation.

After one month, the standards wereoar.

He refuses to give priority to first come first served when applying for electricity.

– It’s not true. First, you have to prove that you are a mature business, that you want to invest and that you want to use force, he says.

– Then we said that with such criteria, priority should be given to existing businesses.

Åsland says the standards have been clearly communicated to the network companies and Statnet, and the government is keen to follow them.