Trondheim and Steinkjer, 15.03.2016 EFTA Surveillance Authority Rue Belliard 35 B- 1040 Brussels Belgium
[email protected] Complaint: Norway gives about NOK 4 billion as an extra support to wind power projects in Trøndelag. We claim that this support violates the general EU market rules. A wind Power consortium consisting of Statkraft, Trønderenergi and Nordic Wind Power is planning 6 wind power sites in Trøndelag (Mid Norway), with a total of 1000 MW installed effect and a yearly production of 3.4 TWh. These wind power sites are going to receive a public support of about NOK 0.15/ kWh for 15 years as an addition to the electricity market price, a support given to all new renewable power installations in Norway and Sweden to be put to work within 2021. We accept that this support probably is within EU market rules. Our complaint concerns an extra support of about NOK 4 billion, which is to be given to the consor- tium through a free connection to the national power grid through new 420 kV overhead lines. The general rule in Norway is that connections of new power plants to the national grid are to be paid by the owner, but in this case the connection is to be paid by Statnett, the owner of the national grid. We claim that this extra support of NOK 4 billion violates the EU market rules of fair competition. Complainants Naturvernforbundet i Sør Trøndelag Sandgata 20 7012 Trondheim Norway Regional departments of: e-mail:
[email protected] phone: +47 40248084 Naturvernforbundet (Friends of the Earth Norway) Naturvernforbundet