The processing of license applications for wind power onshore in Norway has been at a standstill since April 2019. On Friday April 8th the Norwegian government published a white paper and a letter to The Norwegian Water and Energy Directorate (NVE) stating that they are re-opening the process of license applications for onshore wind power in cases where this is requested by the host municipalities.
The municipality must agree to the project
The letter from the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy (MPE) to NVE highlights several aspects that will be central for the concession process. It is stressed that a good dialogue between the wind power developer and the municipality is fundamental in all phases of a project. A wind power developer must start planning a project in dialogue with the host municipality, and a written confirmation that the municipality agrees to the notification being processed must be attached to the notification to NVE.