Norway proposes inform-and-install grid connections for small solar
Serguey Asael Shinder2 min readNorway's energy regulator, NVE, has proposed a simpler connection process for small renewable generators such as rooftop solar, pv magazine reports. The change is aimed at existing grid customers on low-voltage distribution networks, and NVE calls it "inform and install".
Under the proposal, a customer or installer tells the grid company about a planned installation. The grid company then checks whether the connection is operationally sound and has one month to raise any concerns in writing. If it does not respond within that month, the customer may install and use the system, and the permission is treated as granted.
The process would cover systems of up to 6 kW on single-phase connections and up to 11 kW on three-phase connections. The limit applies per metering point, including where several end users share a connection, as in blocks of flats. NVE section manager Torfinn Jonassen said the thresholds cover most typical household installations while limiting the risk of voltage problems on the network. The regulator says the aim is to make local renewable generation easier and more predictable without harming supply quality or grid operation.
A consultation document is open for comments until 20 November.
The proposal arrives as Norway's solar market slows. The country passed 1 GW of installed solar capacity this month, but added only 43 MW in the first seven months of 2026, the slowest growth since 2021. Analysts link the drop mainly to residential installations, which have nearly stopped since Norgepris, a fixed electricity price for households, removed most of the payback. Parliament has ordered a study on a guaranteed minimum price for rooftop solar exported to the grid.
Why it matters
Faster paperwork removes one barrier, but the one analysts point to is economic. A deemed approval after a month helps installers plan; whether households return depends on the export-price study.