Norway is being mapped with the aim of identifying suitable sites for establishing power-intensive industries. The entrepreneurs behind this mapping are focusing on access to green electricity, reliable and stable fiber, low temperatures, and large plots ready for development without conflicts of interest. And they found what they were looking for here, in a region with ambitions for industrial development and growth through both new and existing ventures and more jobs.

An idea emerged that a value-creating partnership across municipalities could attract both national and international clients to set up in our region, thereby generating growth through industrial development, support for entrepreneurial activity, and new jobs. On this basis, a formal company was established, with NØK, Fjellregionen (the municipalities of Tynset, Alvdal, and Rendalen), and Eidsiva joining as owners: Green Field DC Sites AS.

With all the key stakeholders, landowner agreements, planning, power, grid, and fiber gathered within a single company across municipal boundaries, Green Field DC Sites is a pioneer that also inspires other players in Norway to look into the possibilities of establishing data centers.

Consequently, networking activities and skills development are now beginning.
With significant support from Innovation Norway, Greenfield DC Sites was renamed Nordavind DC Sites, which aims to be a company for the entire Hedmark region. Other potential sites and municipalities are chosen based on known location factors in consultation with Eidsiva Nett (now Elvia). The municipalities in question are Elverum, Grue, Sør-Odal, and Ringsaker.

Nordavind is actively working to identify international and national data center operators that may be interested in setting up in Norway. Websites are being developed, and international conferences are being held with other data center operators to promote Norway and the Innlandet region as a location with power supply and infrastructure suitable for establishing power-intensive industries and data centers.

Nordavind initiates the Celtic Norse project, which aims to provide faster and better fiber connections abroad, based on the potential opportunity to lay a fiber route from Ireland to Trøndelag. This is intended to improve international connectivity and increase the attractiveness of establishing data centers in the Innlandet region. Nordavind stands out in the media and news, and many container-based data center operators are looking toward Norway. The scope of operations is expanded to include both Hedmark and Oppland counties.

Ringsaker, Østre Toten, and Vågå join as owners, each with their own site (site = a prepared plot of land for sale or lease to power-intensive industries).

Innovation Norway, in collaboration with the consulting firm COWI, conducts a thorough review of all players offering sites for data center establishment and general industrial development in Norway. In this process, Nordavind is categorized as market ready alongside a few other entities.

During the same period, Nordavind has been a driving force in the Celtic Norse AS project, and it is decided to bring in additional owners: Nord-Trøndelag Energiverk, Trønderenergi, and Eidsiva.
Owner meetings, general assemblies, meetings, and professional seminars are held in the municipalities and for all owners.

Both the Hedmark and Oppland county councils provide financial contributions that ensure resources for preparing sites for industrial development in Innlandet and for continuing international marketing efforts.

NDCS receives inquiries about a potential battery factory establishment in the Innlandet region, requiring access to electricity, large areas, and cooling water. Invest in Norway, Green Mountain, and Statkraft become key partners for NDCS in promoting Innlandet as a suitable location with sufficient power supply to facilitate, support, and strengthen both national and international new establishments in power-intensive industries.

The COVID-19 pandemic limits international activity and puts the continuation of the Celtic Norse fiber cable project on hold, among others.

A shareholder seminar is held, where plans for establishing battery factories in Norway are connected with automation, Norwegian industrial policy, and Nordavind’s ambitions and work.

An inquiry comes from the Joint Battery Initiative (JBI)—namely Hydro/Equinor/Panasonic—which receives proposals for 100 sites across the country. Three of the sites in Nordavind’s portfolio move forward after the initial screening: Slomarka in Sør-Odal, Heggvin in Hamar/Løten, and Grundsetmoen in Elverum. Heggvin ends up in the final selection as one of three potential sites in Norway, and Eidsiva Energi, Hamar Municipality, and Løten Municipality establish Heggvin Utvikling AS as a project company for the ongoing work with JBI. 

NDCS has long collaborated with Green Mountain (GM), owned by Smedvig in Stavanger. When GM inquired about sites in the Hamar/Elverum region, Elverum Vekst sold nearly 100 decares at Grundsetmoen, and GM also purchased 300 decares at Heggvin. By early 2024, the first hall is ready for TikTok, followed by halls 2 and 3—making this Norway’s largest data center with a potential 150 MW draw and at least 350 direct jobs.

Engaged by both Heggvin Utvikling and GM to prepare the site for sale and power supply, Nordavind played a key role in this long, ambitious project. Completing such a major establishment is historic for Innlandet, creating hundreds of jobs and marking Green Mountain as our first major success and a significant new industrial venture. 

Alongside the success at Heggvin, the site at Kolbotn Industrial Area in Lalm has been sold to Krefter/Grand Technik, which is establishing a 10 MW data center. Eidsiva Bredbånd has taken an option to purchase the site at Rudshøgda in Ringsaker. Nordavind will continue developing both remaining and potential new sites for green industries, emphasizing local value creation and new jobs.

However, the challenge for Innlandet going forward is not the availability of suitable sites but the availability of electricity for both existing and new industries. Nordavind will therefore strengthen its focus on building more substations and tapping/utilizing locally produced power.

Innlandet County Council is committed to increasing the local use of Innlandet’s power for industrial purposes. Nordavind participates in this work and has also engaged former Statnett director Bente Hagem in the effort.