The Norwegian government has halted new data center grid connections and plans to limit AI facility construction until late 2027. Reporting indicates new grid capacity reservations are paused until at least August 2027.

Norway has temporarily halted new data centers from connecting to its power grid, a move that could last until late 2027 while regulations catch up. The government is also developing a new licensing system for data center operators.

System operator Statnett and the Norwegian government confirmed that the pause is intended to curb the rapid expansion of power-intensive data centers across the country until appropriate rules are in place. The government has also announced plans for a licensing system to regulate the growth of large-scale cloud operators. Under that system, priority would go to facilities that serve vital functions, including defense, police and emergency services, health services, and other critical infrastructure such as the mobile network and the financial system.

"We want data centers in Norway, but we can't have all types of data centers," Digitalization Minister Torgeir Micaelsen said. "We must therefore control the growth and ensure that Norway gets the data centers we actually need — those that provide the greatest societal benefit."

The pause applies to new data center developments. Projects that have already been approved for a grid connection, or that are already connected, will not be affected.

Norway has become a popular location for new data centers. Statnett said it expects the restrictions to remain in place until at least August 2027, as fluctuating data center loads could destabilize grid operations across the country. Statnett estimates that around 800 MW of data centers are currently connected in Norway, with an additional 4.2 GW reserved and 9.1 GW in the capacity queue. However, around 18 GW is currently being requested for connection, which is more than a third of the country's peak power demand.

Norway has already imposed a temporary ban on new data centers used for cryptocurrency mining. The country is also home to existing and planned data centers from major players including Microsoft, Nscale, TikTok (through Green Mountain), and CoreWeave.

The announcement comes at a critical time for data center developers, as opposition to new facilities spreads across the world. More than 100 organizations across 15 European countries recently came together to campaign against ongoing AI data center developments, calling for an immediate moratorium on new large-scale campuses.