The upgrade, part of a broader rehabilitation effort, ensures uninterrupted electricity production during construction. The new station, set for completion in 2028, will boost annual electricity output by 21 GWh and nearly quadruple the plant’s capacity, enhancing its ability to adjust power supply based on demand.
SFE CEO Knut Arild Flatjord highlighted the project’s significance: “The power market of the future, with an increasing share of non-dispatchable energy, will need large, flexible ‘batteries’ like the water reservoirs at Øksenelvane. One key reason why electricity production at this power plant can be quickly ramped up or down is that it discharges directly into the sea. In power plants where the water flows into a river after production, flexibility is more limited because it affects river ecosystems. With this project, Norway gains more flexible energy – in an area that has already been developed.”
NIB President and CEO André Küüsvek stated: “Partnering with SFE to upgrade the Øksenelvane power station strengthens a key contributor to Norway’s renewable energy supply. This ensures greater power reliability, especially during periods of lower wind and solar output in the Nordic region.”
SFE, a leading renewable energy producer in Western Norway, generates an average of 2.4 TWh annually. The Øksenelvane upgrade supports Norway’s commitment to sustainable energy, enhancing grid reliability and flexibility while leveraging existing infrastructure for efficient renewable energy production.
