After three years of planning, Skagerak Kraft has submitted a licence application to develop Sauland Power Plant in Hjartdal municipality, Telemark county. Director of Production Finn Werner Bekken says that Sauland Power Plant will make a significant contribution of renewable energy at the national level.

Equivalent to 20 small-scale power plants

The development will give more than 20 times the energy of a medium sized small-scale power plant producing 10 GWh. The impact on natural resources, the environment and society will be moderate compared to the significant amount of energy that will be produced, according to Bekken.

Sauland Power Plant will channel water through a tunnel from Hjartsjå and Sønderlandsvatn lakes and utilise the hydroelectric power potential in Hjartdøla and Skogsåa rivers, respectively, as well as adjacent tributaries. The power plant will be built inside the rock in the mountain north of Skårnes. The water from the two watercourses will be led out of the station through a tunnel that will empty out some way downstream of Omnesfossen waterfall in Hjartdøla.

Major assessment work

'We have conducted comprehensive assessment work before submitting the application. In addition to the application, 14 technical reports have been prepared to address the various impacts of such a development. All of these impact assessments have been carried out by external, independent consultants within their respective areas of expertise,' says Bekken.

The licence application has been sent to the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE). The application will be presented for public consultation before the NVE presents its recommendation to the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy.

All aspects will be considered

The licence application will undergo thorough consideration before the NVE issues its recommendation. In the first instance, it will be presented for public consultation. 'As the developer, it is important to us that the application is subject to broad review in order to consider all aspects of the project,' says Bekken.

Sauland Power Plant will have an annual production of 218 GWh, roughly equivalent to the annual power consumption of 10,900 households. The cost of the development is estimated to be NOK 982 million, and the construction period will be around two and a half years.

 

Main documents:

Licence application (15.4 mb) (PDF, 12MB)
Information brochure about the licence application. (6.3 mb) (PDF, 8MB)
Technical drawing attachment. (10.1 mb) (PDF, 9MB)
Lists of landowners and waterfall owners. (Not on web)