{
  "id": 19120238,
  "title": "Datasentre: Vil ha konsesjonsordning",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/datasentre-vil-ha-konsesjonsordning",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-09T08:36:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "E24 Norway",
    "slug": "e24-norway",
    "url": "https://e24.no/energi-og-klima/i/3Bj0kX/datasentre-vil-ha-konsesjonsordning"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Norwegian government unveiled measures on Monday aimed at regulating the growth of data centers. The government seeks to establish a system where data centers must apply for a concession. Energy Minister Terje Aasland and Digitalization and Government Reform Minister Torgeir Micaelsen presented the initiatives at a press conference. \"The main thing the government is doing now is to start work on a concession system,\" Micaelsen said. Both the Conservatives and the Progress Party have previously proposed a concession system for data centers, and the Conservatives have opened the door to this possibility. Digitalization Minister Micaelsen notes that Norway has concession systems for several industries. \"A concession system is not meant to drive an industry out, but to develop it,\" he said. The government plans to submit a proposal in the autumn of 2027. Data centers are large halls filled with energy-intensive data equipment that can store or process data. For example, they can store healthcare information or videos and social media updates such as TikTok. Data centers are also central to processes behind artificial intelligence (AI). However, data centers also take up space, they create noise and can require a lot of energy. This has led to resistance in various places, both in Norway and other countries. Just before the press conference, Statnett announced a temporary halt in the allocation of new power to data centers. The temporary halt will allow time to implement measures and mechanisms that ensure the connection is made with manageable consequences for the power system and system operation. Statnett spokesperson Peer Olav Østli says the temporary halt is necessary to put in place tools and frameworks that ensure the connection is made with manageable consequences for the power system and system operation. Digitalization Minister Micaelsen notes that demand for power is very high. Both the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NVE) and Statnett have reported a very high rate of entry into the market, including data centers. \"The situation is not sustainable without new politics and new measures,\" Micaelsen said. The government will also engage in dialogue with the data center industry about how they can obtain power themselves. Micaelsen cites solutions such as gas-fired power plants with CO2 removal and offshore wind. The government will also outline different models for state ownership of strategically important data centers. Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap) has long been concerned about the surge in power demand. \"We are making room for more and faster expansion of power and the grid, but it is neither desirable nor possible to build enough to cover the power demand surge from data centers seeking to establish themselves in Norway. We need enough electricity in the right place for socially beneficial purposes. That's why we're taking action now,\" Aasland said. The Labour Party (Norway's Social Democratic Party) has proposed a temporary halt to data center expansion, receiving support from the Christian Democratic Party (KrF), the Socialist Left Party (SF), the Progress Party (SP), and the Movement for a Democratic Society (MDG), but the proposal was rejected in the Storting. The Labour Party hopes that the Liberal Party (Frp) will change its stance and secure a majority for a halt. Denmark recently adopted an emergency plan to address the large power demand surge. In that plan, data centers were placed at the bottom of the power queue because power was specifically intended for green transition. Several large and energy-intensive data centers are under planning or construction, such as Google in Skien and Aker Nscale in Narvik. So far, data centers have used only a little over 3 terawatt-hours (TWh) per year, but many have warned that this can increase rapidly and significantly. Many have warned that further growth in data centers could be demanding for the system.",
  "summary": "Regjeringen vil lage en konsesjonsordning for datasentre.",
  "key_points": [
    "Norwegian government unveils measures to regulate data center growth",
    "Energy Minister Terje Aasland, Digitalization Minister Torgeir Micaelsen present initiatives",
    "Concession system proposal to be submitted in autumn 2027"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}