# Danish electricity grid expansion and regulation > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/danish-electricity-grid-expansion-and-regulation > Updated: 2026-10-21T09:45:25.000Z. Sources: 17. Developments: 4. The Danish state-owned grid operator, Energinet, has faced regulatory and logistical challenges regarding the expansion and management of the national electricity grid. Initially, Energinet came under scrutiny from the Danish Utility Regulator and legal experts following its decision to pause new electricity grid connections to manage power grid pressure. Legal expert Bent Ole Gram Mortensen criticized the operator’s emergency plan as an ‘incredibly risky tactic,’ arguing that such measures required prior approval. Following an eight-month moratorium that began in March, Energinet is preparing to resume new electricity grid connections. The halt was implemented to manage a massive backlog of applications totaling nearly 60 GW, which is approximately eight times Denmark’s current daily consumption. Under a new emergency plan, connection priorities have been established. While heat pump installations under 3 MW are designated as ‘priority category 1’ to support electrification, larger electric boilers may be relegated to ‘category 3.’ Dansk Fjernvarme has expressed concern that this categorization could create obstacles for providing flexibility to the electricity system. In preparation for resuming approvals in November, Energinet announced it is ready to grant connections to several hundred companies, addressing a queue of over 300 projects. The operator stated the transmission grid has sufficient capacity for households, small businesses, and critical functions like healthcare and defense. Projects are now being prioritized into four categories: Category 1 for protected needs and critical societal functions; Category 2 for direct electrification, renewables, carbon capture, hydrogen, and power-to-x; Category 3 for energy storage and grid-supporting projects; and Category 4 for certain large energy consumers. For categories 2 through 4, projects are also assessed on ‘grid-friendliness’ to prioritize those placing less strain on the network. Separately, the Ringsbjerg power grid expansion project, involving a new 400 kV high-voltage station and cable stretches, narrowly avoided a one-year delay. ## Claims - Energinet is expanding the power grid with a new 400 kV high-voltage station and two 400 kV cable stretches. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The power grid project was at risk of a one-year delay. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Relocating bats could only be performed within a limited biological time window. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The environmental permit was dependent on a national planning directive. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Authorities and Energinet have found a solution within existing frameworks to avoid the delay. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-21: Energinet to grant power grid connections to hundreds of companies Energinet will begin granting electricity grid connections to hundreds of companies this November, prioritizing critical societal functions and renewable energy projects amid high demand. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/energinet-to-grant-power-grid-connections-to-hundreds-of-companies ### 2026-10-19: Energinet to resume electricity grid connections in Denmark Denmark's Energinet is set to end an eight-month freeze on electricity grid connections as new priority regulations for the power grid take effect. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/energinet-to-resume-electricity-grid-connections-in-denmark ### 2026-10-15: Energinet avoids one-year delay on Danish power grid project Energinet narrowly avoided a one-year delay on a major 400 kV power grid expansion in Denmark after resolving complex environmental permit issues regarding bat relocation. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/energinet-avoids-one-year-delay-on-danish-power-grid-project ### 2026-10-04: Energinet faces criticism over electricity grid connection tactics Energinet and the Danish Utility Regulator are in conflict over the approval process for new electricity grid connections amid pressure on the national power grid. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/energinet-faces-criticism-over-electricity-grid-connection-tactics --- Cite as: Danish electricity grid expansion and regulation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/danish-electricity-grid-expansion-and-regulation