The plants in Telemark are Hydro’s oldest. Svelgfoss began operations in 1907 and supplied power to Hydro’s first potassium nitrate production at Notodden, Norway.
Vemork was constructed in 1911 and it was at the time the world’s largest hydropower plant. When Såheim was added in 1915, the two plants were the foundation for the industrial development at Rjukan.
The original Vemork plant has been declared a historic site and is today the Norwegian Industrial Workers Museum. The new Vermork plant opened in 1971.
All power stations along the Måna river from Mjøsvatn to Tinnsjøen were modernized between 1990 to 1996. The Frøystul plant, which had been in operation since 1926, was closed and a new power plant was opened in 1995.
River systems, reservoirs and watercourses
The catchment area for the power plants in Rjukan totals 4,108 square kilometers, of which the Møsvatn field constitutes 1,509 square kilometers. Møsvatn covers parts of Hardangervidda National Park.
Reservoir capacity above Svelgfoss totals 1,851 million cubic meters, of which Møsvatn constitutes 1,066 million cubic meters.
Mjøsvatn is Norway’s third-largest reservoir, with an energy storage potential of 2,200 GWh – enough to power 90,000 homes for a year.
Power stations
The modernization of the power plants has brought the equipment and watercourses up to date as far as the technical standard is concerned. Power production has increased by 8 percent, or about 250 GWh, with no environmental impact.
Frøystul
Hydro's share: 100%
Installed capacity: 47 MW
Production share: 100%
Average production: 198 GWh/year*
Vemork
Hydro's share: 100%
Installed capacity: 203 MW
Production share: 100%
Average production: 1135 GWh/year*
Såheim
Hydro's share: 100%
Installed capacity: 185 MW
Production share: 100%
Average production: 1022 GWh/year*
Moflåt
Hydro's share: 100%
Installed capacity: 29 MW
Production share: 100%
Average production: 157 GWh/year*
Mæl
Hydro's share: 100%
Installed capacity: 38 MW
Production share: 100%
Average production: 218 GWh/year*
Svelgfoss
Hydros andel: 70%
Installed capacity: 92 MW
Production share: 70,8%
Average production: 358 GWh/year*
**Vrangfoss
Hydro's share: 0%
Installed capacity: 34 MW
Production share: 91%
Average production: 173 GWh/year*
**Eidsfoss
Hydro's share: 0%
Installed capacity: 15 MW
Production share: 50%
Average production: 42 GWh/year*
* Hydro's share
** The Vrangfoss and Eidsfoss power plants are owned by Cappelen ANS and the energy company Midt-Telemark Kraftlag. Since January 1, 2007 Statkraft has been the operator of the plants. Hydro will receive power from the plants until 2012 and 2014, respectively.
