Upgrade to 420 kV between Aurland and Sogndal
Statnett is upgrading the 300 kV transmission power line between Aurland and Sogndal to 420 kV. This will mainly happen by building a new power line parallel to the existing one, which will be removed after the new line is in use.
At the same time, the part of the 300 kV transmission power line between Hove and Sogndal that lies between Sogndal and Ramnaberget in Vik municipality is to be replaced with a new one. The new grid connections will be completed in 2025 at the earliest, and the old ones will be removed in the following two years. The upgrade does not require any visible changes to the Sogndal substation.
The Norwegian Water resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) has given Statnett permission to upgrade the section Aurland-Sogndal-Ramnaberg, and the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has confirmed the concession.
The upgrade is planned so that the lines that currently run through Fardal and Øvstedalen can be removed. Statnett's site in Fardal will in the future be used as a base and meeting place for our operating organisation.
Upgrade of Aurland 1 substation
Aurland 1 substation is an important hub for transmission grid in the region and is currently jointly owned by Statnett and Hafslund E-CO. Assessments conducted at Aurland indicate that there is a need for renewal of the substation in a few years. Aurland I currently does not satisfy regulatory requirements with regards to duplication of busbars/switches for this category of substations. Renewal of Aurland 1 is also an important prerequisite for the commissioning of the 420 kV transmission power line between Aurland-Sogndal.
Increased capacity over the Sognefjord
Upgrade of the Aurland-Sogndal transmission connection will contribute to better capacity between Trøndelag and Western Norway. There is in any case a need for reinvestment of the current connection in the future. Statnett expects that increased consumption south of the Sognefjord, together with the development of new renewable power production north of the fjord, will increase the bottleneck on the current grid connection.