Luster

Overview

Luster hosts a dense cluster of concession activity and grid queue reservations centred on the Fortun transformer station complex, where Hydro Energi and Hydro Aluminium are expanding pumped-storage capacity and industrial consumption. Alongside this industrial core, two datacenter projects totalling 220 MW of consumption have secured or are awaiting grid capacity at the Leirdøla substation, signalling diversification beyond aluminium. The municipality shows no withdrawn queue items and only one inactive concession, pointing to a stable and well-engaged development environment.

Recent Activity

The most significant recent event is NVE's rejection of the Bluesite AS datacenter application at Reiarmoen, Gaupne (dismissed 1 July 2026). On the grid side, Hydro Energi's 48 MW project at Fortun KRA/TRA was actively reshuffled in late June 2026: two 48 MW queue entries were added on 19 June, one was subsequently promoted to reserved status, and the other removed — reflecting active capacity management for the Illvatn pumped-storage project.

Key Substations

Municipality Stance

Luster appears broadly supportive of energy development, particularly industrial-scale hydro and grid infrastructure tied to the Hydro aluminium complex. No projects show signs of municipal opposition, and the zero-withdrawal rate from the grid queue suggests a stable permitting environment. The rejection of the Bluesite datacenter application was an NVE procedural dismissal rather than a municipal stance.

Outlook

Luster's energy outlook is strong. The Jamnene/Fortun substation complex is being substantially upgraded to 420 kV, unlocking future capacity for both expanded aluminium production and new entrants. The 220 MW of datacenter consumption queued at Leirdøla represents a meaningful diversification opportunity, though developers should note that grid capacity at this node is already heavily subscribed. Hydro Energi's continued investment in pumped-storage (Illvatn, Øyane) positions Luster as a flexibility provider in the regional grid. New small hydro developers could find limited grid headroom at Fortun in the near term but may explore Leirdøla or local distribution connections.