Europe |
to floods and extreme events. Implementation of the system will also reduce inspection costs and increase the efficiency of the monitoring activities carried out by Apele Moldovei.
“For us, this equipment means, first, that floods will no longer take us by surprise and that dams and dikes will remain safe in extreme events. Secondly, the georadar system gives us a new perspective on how we can monitor and protect water infrastructure. Thanks to this support, from now on we will be able to intervene faster and more efficiently in water infrastructure management,” said Radu Cazacu, Deputy Director of Apele Moldovei.
Fossil-free in Sweden Vattenfall and steel company SSAB have signed a new
Above: Lovisa Fricot Norén, CEO of Vattenfall’s Nordic hydropower
Below: The three locks at the Åmli power plant in the Nidelva and one lock in the tributary Gjøv will be upgraded. Image courtesy of Å Energi.
agreement for the delivery of 120 tonnes of fossil-free steel, for what will be the world’s first fossil-free dam gate. To be installed in Vattenfall’s hydropower station in Stornorrfors, Sweden during 2028, the dam hatch will be 21m wide and 11m high. It will be the largest steel component ever produced with near-zero fossil carbon dioxide emissions in iron production. The fossil-free steel is produced with sponge iron from Hybrit’s pilot plant in Luleå, jointly owned by Vattenfall, SSAB and LKAB. The Hybrit technology virtually eliminates carbon dioxide emissions in iron production. In the current project, the climate footprint is estimated to be reduced by about 200 tonnes of carbon dioxide. The order for the dam gate, which is being replaced as part of planned maintenance, is in line with Vattenfall’s strategy for the fossil-free transition and is a logical next step in the deepened collaboration between Vattenfall and SSAB. “Vattenfall and SSAB are now taking a big step forward in the development of fossil-free value chains and components. Vattenfall is committed to fossil freedom and our goal is to have net-zero emissions throughout our value chain by 2040. This is also an important part of extending the lifetime of the important fossil free hydropower for the next hundred years,” says Lovisa Fricot Norén, CEO of Vattenfall’s Nordic hydropower. The Stornorrfors hydropower station in the Ume River is Sweden’s largest, in terms of annual production, with an installed capacity of 603 MW. Commissioned in 1958, maintenance work on new dam gates is an important part of extending the operational life of the facility.
Vattenfall has a total of about 8300MW of installed
hydropower capacity in Sweden, which is more than half of all the country’s hydropower.
Norwegian rehab
Rehabilitation of Norway’s Hyttfoss Dam in Trondheim Municipality is underway after AF Gruppen signed a contract with Statkraft in October 2025. Hyttfoss Dam regulates the Selbusjøen reservoir, which serves as the intake for the three power stations of Løkaunet, Svean and Bratsberg. The works, which include the construction of a cofferdam, demolition of the existing dam, and construction of a new dam, should be completed by spring 2029. “AF Gruppen is committed to hydropower development and has participated in numerous hydropower projects across Norway. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Statkraft and are excited to begin work on the rehabilitation of Hyttfoss Dam,” says Geir Flåta, EVP Civil Engineering at AF Gruppen. Andritz is also set to refurbish key components of the Svartisen hydropower plant - a 600MW scheme jointly owned by Statkraft and Nordland County Municipality which plays a vital role in Norway’s renewable energy landscape. Originally commissioned in 1993 and expanded in 2010, the plant harnesses glacier-fed water from Lake Storglomvatn to generate electricity. Under the contract Andritz will refurbish both Francis turbines (350MW and 250MW) and one main inlet valve. Advanced ceramic coatings will enhance wear
resistance and extend service life of the turbines and both units will be newly equipped with digital turbine governors. The contract also includes design, manufacturing, installation and commissioning of the refurbished components and training of Statkraft personnel. Norwegian utility Å Energi has also announced plans
to upgrade the hatches at the Åmli power plant as part of a broader investment programme to modernise its hydropower portfolio. The project, valued at close to NOK 50m (US$4.6m), will focus on rehabilitating four gates at the plant, which is located on the Nidelva River near the centre of Åmli. Three of the hatches are situated adjacent to the station, with a fourth positioned upstream on the Gjøv tributary. According to the company, the works form part of a wider strategy to invest around US$1.05bn in upgrades and new developments by 2035. Jan Erik Eldor, executive vice president for hydropower at Å Energi, said the programme is aimed at securing continued safe and stable electricity production across its fleet. The hatches at Åmli, originally installed more than 40 years ago, will undergo extensive refurbishment. Planned works include sandblasting and repainting, replacement of seals, and associated concrete repairs. Construction is scheduled to begin in April or May 2026 and continue through to autumn 2027, The main contract has been awarded to Lysaker & Thorrud AS, who will deliver steel structures for the upgrade.
References
Action towards increase in sustainable hydropower: A Pan-European assessment and strategy by Egidijus Kasiulis, Marina Cerpinska, Elena Pummer, David Finger, Ewa Malicka, Barbara Fischer-Aupperle, Eduard Doujak, Ioannis Anagnostopoulos, Marko Hocevar, Giovanna Cavazzini. Renewable Energy 263 (2026) 125503.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2026.125503
24 | May 2026 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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