Statnett indicates that construction of the new 7.7 km, 420 kV subsea cable link over Fensfjorden between Iledalsvågen and Mongstad, which doubles transmission capacity between Haugsvær and Lindås, is expected to be fully completed by December 2025 as part of the first stage of its area plan for the Bergensområdet and Haugalandet grid.
Statnett put the new 420 kV Fensfjorden submarine cable link between Haugsvær and Lindås into operation on Friday 28 November 2025, doubling transmission capacity over the fjord and strengthening power transfer in the Bergensområdet/Haugalandet region.
By 29 August 2025, Nexans reported that it had delivered and installed a 7.7 km long 420 kV subsea cable across Fensfjorden for Statnett, at depths down to about 530 m, completing the offshore cable installation that doubles transmission capacity between Haugsvær and Lindås and strengthens power supply in the region.
Cable installation across Fensfjorden between Mongstad and Ildalsvågen for Statnett’s new 420 kV connection was scheduled to start on 15 June 2025, with cable-laying, diving support and guard vessels operating along a defined route in parallel with the existing cables during a campaign running until 13 July 2025.
Statnett planned to resume onshore construction for the Fensfjord cable project on 12 May 2025 at Mongstad, restarting land-based works after a 2024 stoppage as part of installing a new 7.7 km, 420 kV cable set across Fensfjorden to double capacity between Haugsvær and Lindås; the land works are being carried out by local contractor Nordhordland Grunn og Betong (NGB).
Statnett confirmed that Nexans has been contracted to deliver the 7.7 km 420 kV subsea cables over Fensfjorden between Haugsvær and Lindås, as well as to carry out the installation works and subsequent voltage testing of the Fensfjordkabelen interconnector. The contract covers supply, laying and testing of the deep-water AC submarine cables that will double transmission capacity across Fensfjorden.
Statnett entered into an agreement with local contractor Nordhordland Grunn og Betong (NGB) for onshore construction works on both shores of Fensfjorden for the Haugsvær–Lindås subsea cable project, including access roads and laydown areas at the landfalls. The civil works contract covers completion of land-based preparations ahead of cable installation and later reinstatement of the sites.
Licence: Decision on extension of deadline for idriftsettelse under the anleggskonsesjon for Fensfjordkabelen (ny 420 kV sjøkabel Haugsvær–Lindås)
In December 2024 NVE issued a decision to extend the deadline for commissioning (idriftsettelse) of Statnett’s Fensfjorden submarine cable project between Iledalsvågen and Mongstad, adjusting the licence conditions to reflect the updated construction schedule.
Statnett planned an offshore site-preparation campaign ahead of the originally scheduled 2024 cable installation, involving placement of an estimated 60–80 concrete mattresses over about 1.2 km of seabed in the approach to Iledalsvågen to stabilise soft sediments and prevent the new Fensfjorden cables from sinking into the seabed.
By mid-November 2023, Statnett had started construction works related to establishing two new submarine power cables over Fensfjorden between Haugsvær and Lindås, issuing a letter on the commencement of these onshore works at the land facilities (muffe stations) on each side of the fjord.
| Vestland | Vestland | |
|---|---|---|
| Landfall | Mongstad, Vestland, Norway | Iledalsvågen, Vestland, Norway |
| Grid Connection | Haugsvær transformatorstasjon | Lindås transformatorstasjon |
Vestland
Vestland