Sunday Power | SalMar opens the region's largest rooftop PV plant

Behind the project are SalMar, NTE and solar energy company Sunday Power. Together, they show how renewable power can be produced where the need is greatest — completely without the intervention of nature.

Local power leaves room for growth

Over 100 commercial parks in Norway struggle to access enough power. Ore is one of them. Without new and local energy production, it will be difficult to attract new businesses, or secure growth for existing players.

100% of the electricity produced at SALMAR's new solar plants is used directly in the production. It relieves the already squeezed power grid in the area.

“At this plant, we produce around 20 million smolts a year — that's the starting point for close to half a billion midday meals. With it also comes a large power consumption. The building accounts for over 10% of the electricity consumption of the entire Salmar Group. It makes it extra important and gratifying to see that we are able to implement measures where it really matters. This is an important step in SalMar's green transition — and a contribution to the green transition in the local community,” says Mats Langseth, sustainability manager at SalMar.

Easy way to solar — no investment

The plant at Tjuin is developed and operated by Sunday Power, and is owned by NTE. The model allows property owners to get rooftop solar power without investing themselves. Electricity is used directly in the building and cuts both costs and climate emissions.

“The climate challenge remains the greatest challenge of our time — even in a troubled geopolitical situation. In Norway, too, we have a big job to do to become a renewable society. 50% of the energy used in Norway is fossil. That's why we need to use every opportunity we have, and local energy production will only become more important in the future. Together with Sunday Power, we have found a model we believe in — where solar on industrial buildings can become an important and conflict-free contributor in the energy system,” says Christian Stav, CEO of NTE.

In the future, we all need to contribute more to our own energy consumption. All sectors are electrified, and power demand is increasing. When an industry player like SalMar takes responsibility and uses the roof for local electricity generation, it makes an important contribution to both the community accounts and the power system. This is a collaboration others can and should look to,” says Ingvild Kjerkol, chair of the Energy and Environment Committee at the Storting.

Jonas Ibsen Brynildsrud, CEO of Sunday Power praises SalMar for the initiative.

“SalMar is a forward-thinking player who takes the lead in solving the power crisis with its own roof. We are very proud to be part of this project. The collaboration shows what values can be created on a roof that would otherwise have been empty, without making new interventions in nature,” says Ibsen Brynildsrud.

During the opening on Friday 23 May, both Mayor Gunnar Thorsen, Parliamentary Representative Ingvild Kjerkol, representatives from SalMar, NTE and several local industry players were present. Speeches were given, cake was served and given a tour of the facility.

The project is the result of a close collaboration between SalMar, energy company NTE and solar power provider Sunday Power — an example of how different actors can join together to solve both local and national challenges.