NorthConnect: Norway rejects project with Scotland

Norway has decided to terminate the electricity interconnection project with Scotland to focus on domestic electricity supply. The decision was motivated by the need to meet the country's energy needs at competitive prices.

Share:

NorthConnect was rejected by the Norwegian government. The main reason for rejecting this marine interconnection is national energy autonomy. Indeed, Norway wants to ensure an electricity system that can meet the basic objectives of electricity supply at competitive prices. Norway is rich in fossil fuels and renewables, but the country has seen a spike in electricity bills this winter, in part due to soaring prices in Europe.

The NorthConnect project in a few words

Carried by three Norwegian municipal companies and the Swedish public group Vattenfall, the NorthConnect project was to allow the two countries to exchange their renewable energies (wind for Scotland and hydro for Norway) via a 665 km undersea cable with a capacity of 1,400 MW. However, Minister of Higher Education Ola Borten Moe said the government does not want to pave the way for additional energy exports.

Norway’s position on electricity interconnections

Norway is already connected to several other countries (United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Finland) by electrical interconnections with a total capacity of about 9,000 MW. Although Norway is not a member of the European Union, the country is strongly integrated into the European market, including electricity, through its membership of the European Economic Area (EEA).

Why was the NorthConnect project rejected?

In January, the Norwegian government presented measures to reduce its exports in the event of a sharp drop in its hydroelectric reservoirs, a decision that was scrutinized by the European regulator of the sector. Norway’s state-owned power system operator Statnett also announced on Thursday a reduction in the technical capacity for exporting electricity from the North Sea Link cable linking the country to the UK, bringing it in line with the export cap on the UK side.

In conclusion, Norway has made a decision to preserve its national energy autonomy by rejecting the NorthConnect project. Norway wants to use its energy to build its industry and maintain competitive prices on the domestic market.

Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Peru significantly increase renewable electricity production, reaching nearly 70% of the regional electricity mix, according to a recent Wood Mackenzie study on Latin America's energy sector.
The Canadian government announces an investment of more than $40mn to fund 13 energy projects led by Indigenous communities across the country, aiming to improve energy efficiency and increase local renewable energy use.
The German Ministry of Economy plans to significantly expand aid aimed at reducing industrial electricity costs, increasing eligible companies from 350 to 2,200, at an estimated cost of €4bn ($4.7bn).
A major electricity blackout paralyzed large parts of the Czech Republic, interrupting transport and essential networks, raising immediate economic concerns, and highlighting the vulnerability of energy infrastructures to unforeseen technical incidents.
French greenhouse gas emissions are expected to rise by 0.2% in the first quarter of 2025, indicating a global slowdown in reductions forecast for the full year, according to Citepa, an independent organisation responsible for national monitoring.
The Republican budget bill passed by the U.S. Senate accelerates the phase-out of tax credits for renewable energies, favoring fossil fuels and raising economic concerns among solar and wind industry professionals.
Rapid growth in solar and wind capacities will lead to a significant rise in electricity curtailment in Brazil, as existing transmission infrastructure remains inadequate to handle this massive influx of energy, according to a recent study by consulting firm Wood Mackenzie.
In April 2025, fossil fuels represented 49.5% of South Korea's electricity mix, dropping below the symbolic threshold of 50% for the first time, primarily due to a historic decline in coal-generated electricity production.
The US Senate Finance Committee modifies the '45Z' tax credit to standardize the tax treatment of renewable fuels, thereby encouraging advanced biofuel production starting October 2025.
According to the 2025 report on global energy access, despite notable progress in renewable energy, insufficient targeted financing continues to hinder electricity and clean cooking access, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
While advanced economies maintain global energy leadership, China and the United States have significantly progressed in the security and sustainability of their energy systems, according to the World Economic Forum's annual report.
On the sidelines of the US–Africa summit in Luanda, Algiers and Luanda consolidate their energy collaboration to better exploit their oil, gas, and mining potential, targeting a common strategy in regional and international markets.
The UK's Climate Change Committee is urging the government to quickly reduce electricity costs to facilitate the adoption of heat pumps and electric vehicles, judged too slow to achieve the set climate targets.
The European Commission will extend until the end of 2030 an expanded state-aid framework, allowing capitals to fund low-carbon technologies and nuclear power to preserve competitiveness against China and the United States.
Japan's grid operator forecasts an energy shortfall of up to 89 GW by 2050 due to rising demand from semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence technologies.
Energy-intensive European industries will be eligible for temporary state aid to mitigate high electricity prices, according to a new regulatory framework proposed by the European Commission under the "Clean Industrial Deal."
Mauritius seeks international investors to swiftly build a floating power plant of around 100 MW, aiming to secure the national energy supply by January 2026 and address current production shortfalls.
Madrid announces immediate energy storage measures while Lisbon secures its electrical grid, responding to the historic outage that affected the entire Iberian Peninsula in late April.
Indonesia has unveiled its new national energy plan, projecting an increase of 69.5 GW in electricity capacity over ten years, largely funded by independent producers, to address rapidly rising domestic demand.
French Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher condemns the parliamentary moratorium on new renewable energy installations, warning of the potential loss of 150,000 industrial jobs and increased energy dependence on foreign countries.