Statkraft has submitted a licence application to the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) for the construction of the new Høyanger K5 and Breidal hydropower plants in Høyanger municipality, Norway.
The proposed plants would replace the existing Høyanger K5A and K5B facilities, increasing their combined installed capacity from around 109MW to approximately 257MW.
Annual generation is expected to rise by around 10%, from approximately 700GWh to 780GWh. Statkraft said the additional capacity would also increase the flexibility of the plants and their ability to generate during periods of high electricity demand.
The development would use the existing regulated water resources and would not require new reservoirs, additional water resources or changes to current regulation limits.
Statkraft has set an investment framework of just under NOK3bn for the development. The project forms part of the company’s previously announced plans to invest NOK80bn in Norway over the next ten years, including upgrades and further development of its hydropower portfolio.
The existing K5A and K5B plants were commissioned between 1965 and 1979. Statkraft said the facilities remain in good condition, but several key components have limited remaining operating life and would require extensive reinvestment if the existing plants were retained.
“This is a project that will deliver more power and greater flexibility from a watercourse that is already regulated. When older hydropower plants are facing major reinvestments, we must assess whether the resources can be utilised more efficiently,” said Pål Otto Eide, Senior Vice President Development Nordics at Statkraft.
“Increased capacity and flexibility in the Norwegian power system are important for society. With this project, we can get more out of existing regulations and contribute more production during periods of high demand,” Eide added.
If Statkraft decides to proceed following the licensing process, construction is expected to take four to five years.
NVE will now process the application and submit it for consultation, allowing Høyanger municipality, affected parties, sector authorities, organisations and other stakeholders to provide comments.
Statkraft said it has been in dialogue with Høyanger municipality and other stakeholders about the development for several years.
If the project receives a licence and is considered sufficiently profitable, Statkraft will make an investment decision and prepare a detailed environmental and landscape plan before construction begins.
