SALFJORD SALMON PLANT TO GET POWER IN MAY 2028 AFTER 10-YEAR DELAY

Salfjord Salmon plant to get power in May 2028 after 10-year delay. Salfjord AS get electrical power from May 2028 – Approval from Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) for the construction of a new transformer station secures Salfjord’s timeline for developing the future of aquaculture with the establishment of one of Norway’s largest industrial projects at Tjeldbergodden in Aure.

Salfjord has received confirmation that the grid company Mellom AS will be able to complete the new transformer station and supply power to Salfjord I – Tjeldbergodden from May 2028. Power supply is on the critical path for Salfjord’s land-based fish farming facility at Tjeldbergodden, and this clarification provides the company with the necessary predictability for planning the construction and stocking of the first fish.

“The confirmation of when Salfjord can start production is a crucial milestone for the investment decision. This gives us and our investors the necessary predictability to carry out the capitalisation of the project. This opens for concrete dialogue with long-term industrial and private investors who wish to participate in realising one of Norway’s largest industrial projects at Tjeldbergodden. Interested parties can contact us for more information about investment opportunities,” says Jan Harald Hauvik, Chair of the board, Salfjord.

Salfjord requested grid connection for power supply in April 2018. Capacity queues and processes for grid development mean that electrification of larger industrial projects is time-consuming in Norway. Establishing power supply to a facility of Salfjord’s size requires coordination with Statnett as the operator of the national transmission grid and the regional grid company Mellom AS. Statnett formally allocated grid capacity to Salfjord in March 2025, and full capacity of 55MW will be available in 2028 when the necessary upgrades to the transmission grid are completed. The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) approved Mellom AS’s concession application for the establishment of the transformer station at Tjeldbergodden in October 2025, and the construction will make electricity physically available for one of Norway’s largest industrial projects.

“This is the last tick in a long series of important milestones that have been achieved. The clarification of the timing for power access gives us confidence in the schedules for Salfjord I – Tjeldbergodden, where the construction of the Oceanfront fish farming facility with closed operations will ensure good living conditions for the fish and minimize impact on the environment and wild fish. We look forward to contributing to innovation and value creation in Norwegian aquaculture,” says Hans Ramsvik, CEO of Salfjord.

“With power in place, Salfjord can realise its vision of the future of food production – with a focus on sustainability, biology, fish welfare, technology, and local value creation,” says Robin Fladseth, COO of Salfjord.

The Mayor of Aure, Henning Torset, says:

“The establishment of Salfjord’s facility at Tjeldbergodden is very important for Aure municipality and the surrounding region. That the facility has now received the power allocation it needs is good news. The founders behind Salfjord have put in a lot of work to bring the project to where it is today.”

Image: Salfjord Salmon