Modalen

Overview

Modalen hosts one of western Norway's most important grid upgrade programmes, centred on the new Krossdalen 420 kV transformer station being developed by Statnett in coordination with Eviny Fornybar's voltage upgrades to Steinsland and Nygård facilities. The municipality also holds 250 MW of active hydropower concessions (Eviny) alongside a share of the major 1,500 MW Hordavind onshore wind project spanning three municipalities, though the wind project's attributed 500 MW is currently inactive. No grid queue reservations are registered, suggesting that concession activity is the primary development channel here.

Recent Activity

The most notable recent development is the Refsdal–Modalen monopole line application returning to the formal application stage as of August 2026, having previously advanced to public hearing in June 2026, indicating active processing of new transmission capacity into the municipality.

Key Substations

Municipality Stance

No explicit municipal stance is documented in the available data, but the high volume of granted concessions — particularly for major Statnett transmission infrastructure — suggests Modalen is receptive to energy development. The inactive Hordavind wind project may reflect regulatory or local challenges rather than outright municipal opposition.

Outlook

Modalen's outlook is strong from a grid infrastructure perspective. The Krossdalen 420 kV station positions the municipality as a key node in western Norway's high-voltage transmission network, with multiple interconnecting lines already granted. Eviny's 250 MW hydro and pumped storage upgrade at 420 kV adds generation flexibility. The dormant 1,500 MW Hordavind wind project (500 MW attributed) represents significant latent potential if regulatory conditions change. The absence of grid queue reservations may simply reflect that developers are pursuing concessions directly rather than indicating a lack of interest.