Norwegian grid companies take initiative to secure sustainable land use

Through Strategic Grid Forum (SNF), a forum led by THEMA, the largest grid companies in Norway have committed to common principles for estimating land use. ‘This ensures a common methodology for mapping and analysing the environmental impact of grid infrastructure,’ says Trine Hunderi Sætre, Sustainability Manager at BKK.

The network managers have signed the agreement on the use of shared area principles, and are happy that the companies are cooperating in this field. (Top from left Kristin Aadland (BKK), Anne Sagstuen Nysæther (Elvia), Eirin Kjølstad (Arva), Øivind Askvik (Lede), Gerhard Eidså (Elinett), Steinar Benum (Linea), Audhild Kvam (Tensio) and Tore Morten Wetterhus (Glitre Nett). (Not present: Rune Kiperberg (Linja), Kristoffer Vannes (Fagne) and Vidar Kristoffersen (Norgesnett))
The network managers have signed the agreement on the use of shared area principles, and are happy that the companies are cooperating in this field. (Top from left Kristin Aadland (BKK), Anne Sagstuen Nysæther (Elvia), Eirin Kjølstad (Arva), Øivind Askvik (Lede), Gerhard Eidså (Elinett), Steinar Benum (Linea), Audhild Kvam (Tensio) and Tore Morten Wetterhus (Glitre Nett). (Not present: Rune Kiperberg (Linja), Kristoffer Vannes (Fagne) and Vidar Kristoffersen (Norgesnett))

The grid companies in Norway build, operate and maintain infrastructure that has negative consequences for nature. In the government’s new action plan for biodiversity, land use is highlighted as the biggest negative impact factor on ecosystems and biodiversity.

Power lines are one of four prioritised areas for land usage in the government’s action plan for biodiversity. Norway needs more renewable power generation and grid capacity to realise the green shift. Nevertheless, the grid companies have a responsibility to carry out projects in a way that avoids or minimises negative consequences for nature, and to document the consequences so that it is clear how much nature will be lost and what has been done to limit the damage.

To calculate the impact on nature, it is necessary to find out how much land has been seized. After all, how much land does a substation, a high-voltage cable or an overhead line take up?

Agreement on principles for land mapping of grid components

As there is no common standard for how to calculate land seizure for a grid company, the eleven largest grid companies in Norway have taken matters into their own hands and drawn up common principles for land mapping. The work has been carried out as part of SNF, which is a co-operation forum for the largest grid companies in Norway, led by THEMA. The eleven companies involved in SNF are BKK, Lede, Glitre Nett, Elinett, Arva, Tensio, Fagne, Norgesnett, Linja, Linea and Elvia.

The principles address twelve categories of grid infrastructure and describe how land take should be calculated for each of the categories. The grid companies have committed to follow the principles when conducting area mappings. Any deviations from the principles should be reported and explained. A revision of the principles is planned for 2025.

Important step in the fight against loss of biodiversity

The initiative is an important first step in understanding grid companies’ land take and reducing the industry’s impact on nature and comes in response to growing concerns about nature loss and threatened biodiversity. The principles aim to create a common platform for how these impacts can be mapped and assessed, so that companies can better work to minimise negative impacts on nature.

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