Salfjord secures power supply for land-based salmon project at Tjeldbergodden.
Land-based salmon producer Salfjord has secured a firm timeline for power supply to its planned land based salmon farming facility at Tjeldbergodden in Aure, after the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) approved the construction of a new transformer station.
Grid company Mellom has confirmed it will be able to complete the new transformer station and supply power to Salfjord I – Tjeldbergodden from May 2028. Power access has been on the critical path for the project, which the company describes as one of Norway’s largest industrial developments.
“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 capitalization of the project,” said Jan Harald Hauvik, chair of the board at Salfjord.
Salfjord first requested grid connection in April 2018. Statnett, the national transmission system operator, formally allocated capacity to the project in March 2025. Full capacity of 55 MW is expected to be available in 2028 once upgrades to the transmission grid are completed.
NVE approved Mellom AS’s concession application for the transformer station at Tjeldbergodden in October 2025, clearing the way for construction.
“This is the last tick in a long series of important milestones that have been achieved,” said CEO Hans Ramsvik. “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.”
COO Robin Fladseth said that with power in place, Salfjord can move ahead with its vision of future food production focused on sustainability, fish welfare, technology and local value creation.
Aure mayor Henning Torset described the project as “very important for Aure municipality and the surrounding region,” adding that confirmation of the power allocation is “good news” for the area.
Salfjord plans to start raising salmon at Tjeldbergodden from 2028. The company expects the first facility to deliver the equivalent of 180 million salmon meals a year, with a second phase, Salfjord II, planned from 2032 that would double production capacity.
