European renewable energy company Statkraft has commissioned two new small hydropower plants in Norway, located on opposite sides of the Hardanger mountain plateau.
The Vesle Kjela and Storlia plants will together produce enough electricity to power around 4,000 Norwegian households annually, with Statkraft station that they represent good examples of how water resources at existing hydropower developments can be utilized efficiently, while safeguarding nature.
The Vesle Kjela power plant is located at the top of the Tokke/Vinje regulated watercourse and utilizes the head from the regulated Kjelavatn lake in the Haukelifjell mountain area. The power plant has an installed capacity of 8.5MW and provides a production of approximately 40GWh/year. The Storlia power plant has the same capacity and production and utilizes a head of 75m between the Bjoreio river and Sysenvatn lake in the municipality of Eidfjord as part of the Sima regulation.
“The power plants are good examples of Statkraft's significant investment in upgrading Norwegian hydropower assets,” said CEO Christian Rynning-Tønnesen. ‘Vesle Kjela power plant and Storlia power plant were built using existing infrastructure at previous hydropower developments, new technology and cost-effective methods through good cooperation with suppliers.”
Statkraft has invested more than NOK 20 billion in Norwegian hydropower plants since 2005. It South region operations is responsible for the operation and maintenance of 46 hydropower plants following the commissioning of these two new plants. Statkraft is upgrading several large plants in the region. Rehabilitation of the Songa / Trolldalen hydropower dams has been completed, while major projects in Kvilldal, Sima, Tokke and Vinje power plants are underway. Several major hydropower dam rehabilitations are being planned.
Statkraft CEO Christian Rynning-Tønnesen with Norway's Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Terje Aasland, at the opening of Storlia hydropower plant.
