Significant boost through major upgrade

Nestled in the picturesque landscape near Fagernes in Nord-Aurdal, Norway, the Faslefoss hydropower plant has entered a new chapter. Originally commissioned in 1980, the plant harnesses a 38-meter head between Strandefjorden and Fløafjorden operating with an original maximum water flow of 68 m3/s and has long been a reliable contributor to the Norwegian power grid.

Faslefoss is owned and operated by Hafslund, a Norwegian energy and infrastructure group wholly owned by the City of Oslo. The company is Norway's second largest power producer and the largest supplier of district heating. Operating 81 hydropower plants across Norway, Hafslund produces power equivalent to the consumption of 1.2 million homes.

Thanks to a comprehensive upgrade by ANDRITZ, Faslefoss is now equipped for the future. At the heart of the power station is a Kaplan turbine — originally supplied by Kværner (now part of ANDRITZ) — with a nominal output of 21 MW, connected to a generator from National Industri. The annual production of approximately 85 GWh corresponds to the electricity consumption of around 4,250 households, delivered to the grid via 22 kV lines.

The recent modernization marks a major technological and environmental leap. A new oil-free Kaplan runner made of stainless steel has replaced the original, significantly reducing the environmental impact. The generator has been refurbished with upgraded insulation, and the entire switchgear and control system has been replaced, enhancing operational reliability and enabling advanced monitoring and remote operation.

This upgrade not only extends the plant’s lifetime but boosts efficiency and reliability while promoting sustainability, reinforcing Faslefoss’s role as a clean and stable contributor to the Norwegian power grid for decades to come.

Author: Kristian Glemmestad