Nore 1 hydropower plant.
Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal, CEO of Statkraft, stated: “In the coming years, Statkraft will build the next-generation hydropower system, and we will start five major upgrades by 2030. The license application for upgrading and expanding the Nore plants is an important step in that direction.” She added: “When the first Nore plant was built, it was the largest in the country and produced one-fifth of all electricity in Norway. The power plant was also a catalyst for the industrialisation of Oslo. And now, a hundred years later, we will ensure that it supplies the Norwegian society with electricity for another hundred years.”
The upgrade will modernize aging infrastructure while increasing output using existing water resources. Statkraft proposes two options: the preferred plan consolidates both plants into a single facility inside the mountain, raising capacity from 274MW to 500MW and annual production from 1,500 GWh to 1,700 GWh. Alternatively, relocating both plants separately into the mountain would increase capacity by 65MW and production by 150 GWh. Environmental and community considerations are integral to the project’s design.
Hanne Kristin Ommedal, project manager, noted: “In the power system of the future, there will be a great need to regulate production to deliver more electricity in a short amount of time. Therefore, we are constantly looking for opportunities to increase the capacity of our plants. More capacity can help reduce price peaks, as more and more unregulated renewable power enters the power mix. The new Nore power plant will be important both for the region and for Norway.”
Vartdal emphasized the broader strategy, stating: “Upgrading hydropower plants requires large investments and is often only marginally profitable. There are many considerations to be taken, including the impact on the environment, landowners, and the local population. We will also have to make a comprehensive assessment based on access to capital and which projects provide the most benefit.”
The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate will review the application, followed by a public hearing. The Ministry of Energy will make the final licensing decision. Statkraft’s final investment decision awaits the licensing outcome and further evaluations, aligning with plans to boost Norway’s hydropower capacity by over 20% through multiple upgrades by 2030.
