| Hydraulic machinery According to SFE, the new Øksenelvane plant will
increase annual production by 21 GWh, bringing the total to 171 GWh. That boost is made possible by the installation of two state-of-the-art Pelton turbines, each rated at 55 MW, along with turbine governors, main inlet valves, penstocks, and cooling systems. ANDRITZ is also providing generators, excitation systems with transformers, and full automation and monitoring systems. Kjetil Toverud, Managing Director of ANDRITZ Hydro
AS in Norway, commented: “We are honored to partner with SFE in developing this new hydropower plant and look forward to contributing to Norway’s sustainable energy future.” He added: “The Øksenelvane project underlines ANDRITZ’s commitment to delivering reliable, high- performance hydropower solutions that support a clean energy future and stable grids.” In a grid that is increasingly characterised by variable
renewable generation, the inclusion of grid-supportive capabilities in the new Pelton units is a significant advantage. The ability to provide frequency regulation and other ancillary services strengthens the plant’s long-term value to the Norwegian energy system. Scheduled for completion in 2028, the project forms part of SFE’s broader ambition to expand its renewable generation portfolio, which currently totals 2.4 TWh— enough to meet the electricity needs of approximately 130,000 Norwegian households.
Infrastructure backbone in the DRC In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the
challenge is not only about boosting capacity, but ensuring that existing generation can be reliably delivered to consumers. Despite having two large hydropower plants on the Congo River – Inga I and II –with a combined capacity of over 1.7GW, the country’s energy supply remains fragile due to infrastructure gaps. A major limiting factor was the outdated condition of the substation connecting Inga I and II to the national grid. On behalf of the German Federal Government, KfW financed the rehabilitation of this critical node, allocating €20 million for the substation modernisation and an additional €4 million to connect four turbines to a new digital control system.
“By modernising the substation, we have made an important contribution to making the electricity supply in the Congo more secure,” said Markus Schlömann, a KfW expert involved in the project. “Electricity distribution is often undervalued, but it is just as important for the supply as the electricity generation itself.” The project’s digitalisation component has given Kinshasa’s central control centre real-time access to the substation, enabling early fault detection and correction, reducing energy losses, and stabilising the overall grid. The work had to be done in stages, as the power plants remained in operation throughout the upgrade. Despite delays caused by COVID-19, the modernisation was successfully completed with the integration of all four units. Electricity remains a scarce resource in the DRC— fewer than one in five residents have access to power, and the majority rely on diesel generators or go without. The rehabilitation project is therefore a critical enabler not only for industrial activity but also for improving quality of life. The World Bank is now considering further
expansions of the Inga complex, underlining the importance of strong transmission and substation systems in fully leveraging the country’s renewable energy potential.
Above: Aker Solutions will deliver electromechanical equipment for the new Svean plant in Norway
Left: Funding has been approved for refurbishment of a substation connecting Inga I and II to the grid
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