Aker Solutions has been awarded a contract by Hafslund Kraft to upgrade Nes Power Station in Buskerud, Norway, as part of a modernisation programme expected to increase capacity by approximately 80MW and annual generation by around 37GWh.
The station currently has an installed capacity of 332MW and generates approximately 1.5TWh annually. The programme will also extend its operational lifetime and improve reliability.
Aker Solutions’ scope covers the replacement and modernisation of non-embedded turbine components for the station’s four 83MW Francis units, upgrades to the governor control systems and rehabilitation of the main inlet valves.
The company will also deliver a digital twin to support data-driven optimisation of plant operations. This will help increase operating flexibility and enable the additional capacity to be accommodated using the existing headrace tunnel, which is more than 30km long. The work builds on Aker Solutions’ experience implementing digital twins at other Norwegian hydropower stations.
“We are proud to partner with Hafslund Kraft on one of Norway’s most ambitious hydropower modernization projects. By upgrading proven assets, we can unlock additional renewable energy production, increase flexibility and help secure reliable power supply for decades to come,” said Jo Kjetil Krabbe, Executive Vice President for the Power Solutions segment in Aker Solutions.
“Projects like Nes demonstrate that modernizing hydropower assets is one of the most effective ways to increase clean energy production while minimizing environmental impact,” he added.
Work has already started, with final delivery scheduled for 2032.
