§ 02 — Energy
Sognefjord Pumped Storage
2.6 GW reversible hydro plant carved into Norwegian gneiss.
Client
Statkraft SF / NVE
Contract value
NKr 42 B
Duration
2023 – 2027
Location
60.391°N 5.322°E
The Sognefjord Pumped Storage project is the largest hydropower scheme undertaken in Scandinavia in 30 years — a 2.6 GW reversible hydro plant carved into Norwegian gneiss, utilising a 740 m head differential between two alpine reservoirs.
The plant operates as a battery for the Nordic grid: during periods of excess wind generation, water is pumped from the lower reservoir to the upper; during demand peaks, it flows back through six 433 MW Francis pump-turbines. Round-trip efficiency is 82%, with a storage capacity of 14 GWh — enough to power Bergen for three days.
The underground cavern was excavated using drill-and-blast methods with computer-controlled jumbos achieving 140 m³/h advance rates. Environmental commitments include minimum flow regimes for downstream salmon rivers and a visual impact assessment that led to the underground placement of all surface facilities.
2.6 GW
Capacity