This is a description of the existing high voltage infrastructure in the Tynset area. This is infrastructure operated by the national operator (Statnett) and the regional operator (Eidsiva). In addition there are numerous 21kV lines. There are five separate upgrade projects, and at least three of these struggle with the commercial viability, because the transport costs on the grid to a market hundreds of kilometers away adds to the cost of operation. This is the big opportunity in the area for a datacenter, where local delivery almost completely removes this cost. Good negotiations can secure low energy and transportation costs for 15 years. Additionally, co-building the datacenter and the expansion of the existing infrastructure can bring down costs for both parties. The grid is extremely secure and all electricity is produced from hydropower.
Very secure power grid
- This is primarily a remote generation area, where at least 2/3 of generated capacity is exported to remote customers via the national 300kV grid.
- There are a number of small and large hydropower plants in the area, most of which are in-line river generators in regulated rivers, which generate 24/7/365.
- Locating a datacenter on one or more of the 132kV or 66kV supply lines from the hydropower plants gives automatic redundancy.
- With an interconnect point on the line they can separate the upstream from the downstream, which will automatically build redundancy for the site. Such an interconnect point must be provided by the operator and terms are subject to negotiations.
- The normal situation is that you tap into the generation that normally runs 24/7/365 from the hydropower plants. If there are any outages with the production or the upstream line the downstream line will be available for supply from the national grid, turning the normal electricity flow.
- There is potential for multiple pylon roads and/or multiple lines on the same pylons.
- All large hydropower plants are built with significant internal redundancy.
Existing high voltage infrastructure
- The region has a production of several hundred MW from a large number of hydropower plants.
- Two large sources on the 132kV, one at 90 MW and one at 75 MW, two medium sources at 55 MW and 35 MW, and a number of smaller sources. See more details in the drawing below.
- There are continuous improvements and expansions on existing hydropower plants.
- At least 2/3 of the generated energy is exported through the 300kV lines to the national and international markets.
- The regional 132kV lines are supported, and feed the 300kV lines.
- All three sites have or can easily establish links to natural redundant upstream and downstream feeds between the generation and export.
- The three sites have different capacity profiles.
Regional hydro power plants
- On the map we present present some of the existing regional hydropower plants.
- Additionaly, three planned expansions are presented.
- The expansions will be carried out given commercial viability, which a large datacenter can provide.
- By providing commercial viability, the datacenter can negotiate a very good long-term deal for electricity.
Planned upgrades to the power grid
- The map below presents a consolidated picture assuming five expansion projects are realized.
- The establishment of a high capacity datacenter will at least enable three of these projects to be completed.
Expansion capacity
- The 300kV is built and operated by Statnett, the national grid operator, and 132/66/22kV is built and operated by Eidsiva Nett, the regional grid operator.
- The highest currently available demark voltage is 132kV – can be expanded.
- The local grid provider can provide local transformers and distribution provided a long-term contract.
- The datacenter developer can also become a licensed high voltage operator – this has some implications for procedures and personnel.
