From January 1, 2026, businesses within commercial areas in Norway can share solar energy—reducing both transmission tariffs and electricity costs. Here's what you need to know to take advantage of the scheme. 
 
Share energy, not just addresses: opening the grid for commercial areas 
The core concept is to allow businesses within a commercial area to share surplus production of renewable energy. 
This marks a significant expansion of existing regulations, which previously permitted energy sharing only within the same property, such as housing cooperatives. The new proposal allows sharing of power from renewable energy installations up to 5 MW, compared to the previous limit of 1 MW. Sharing will occur virtually, meaning the locally produced power is fed into the grid and then distributed among participants through financial settlements. 
This means that businesses participating in the scheme will be billed for less electricity than they actually receive from their local grid operator. 

 

 
Reduce electricity tax and grid fees with local power 
The sharing scheme introduces significant economic incentives for businesses investing in solar panel systems, primarily through exemptions from electricity tax and grid fees for shared surplus power. 
Under the sharing scheme, businesses receiving power through the arrangement will be billed for a lower consumption than their actual usage, corresponding mainly to the electricity tax. By being exempt from the electricity tax on shared power, businesses can significantly reduce their operating costs. Combining electricity tax and grid fee exemptions, the scheme offers a robust financial incentive for businesses to join local renewable energy sharing. 
In sum, this improves the return on investment for solar power in industrial areas. 
 
Requires co-location – here’s how to know if you qualify 
The scheme will apply to businesses within a “commercial area.” 
This term is intended to include business areas, industrial parks and similar where businesses are co-located and share common functions. It is not meant to include general commercial buildings in city centers. 
The government, together with the industry, is now working on creating concrete guidelines for how the scheme will work in practice. 
 
Get even more out of the scheme with batteries 
At Skyfri, we work extensively with hybrid solutions where solar panels and batteries combine to enable smart energy management. 
Batteries help reduce peak loads and store solar power for later use instead of selling it to the grid when prices are low. All of this can significantly increase the value of a solar system. The government's proposal has been criticized for not facilitating battery integration better, but batteries can still be installed under the sharing scheme. 
According to the proposal, businesses can use their own batteries in combination with the scheme if the battery is connected to the same metering point as the renewable energy production. 
The batteries can then be used locally behind this point, or to share energy with other metering points when spot prices are high. Batteries can also be installed behind metering points that receive shared production. In this case, they must be managed so they do not feed energy back into the grid. 
This is something Skyfri can support through our Energy Management System (EMS).  
 
New rules, new opportunities – here’s how to position yourself 
The new sharing scheme for renewable energy in commercial areas has the potential to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable energy system. 
By making solar more profitable and promoting local energy use, the scheme marks an important step in Norway’s green energy transformation. While limitations remain, particularly regarding energy storage, the proposal represents real progress toward local energy communities. In countries like Germany, similar frameworks may differ significantly, often in ways that create unnecessary complexity and inefficiency. Skyfri advocates for harmonized and open energy-sharing models across markets. 
To fully benefit from the scheme and ensure optimal system performance, smart monitoring and management are key. 
Skyfri offers end-to-end services for monitoring solar performance and managing energy resources for commercial and industrial buildings. 

Want to make the most of the new rules?
Let’s talk about how Skyfri can help your business cut costs, gain control, and move confidently toward a more sustainable future—right where you are.