Image source: Statkraft

Statkraft is applying for a license to build a new Aura power plant in Sunndal, Norway, with a 6 billion NOK (~$590 million USD) budget, which would deliver 2.5 times the current maximum capacity if built.

Statkraft is planning its “largest hydropower investments in decades,” and Aura is one of the largest projects under consideration. Two weeks ago, Statkraft applied for a license to upgrade the Nore I and Nore II power plants in Buskerud. Both Nore and Aura are part of the major planned upgrades announced by the company in 2024, along with Mauranger, for which license applications have already been submitted. 

“Electricity is the backbone of our society and the foundation for value creation across the country. Many hydropower plants now require modernization,” said Statkraft CEO Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal. “At the same time, growing demand and increased production from intermittent energy sources mean we need to be able to generate more electricity exactly when it is needed. By building a new Aura power plant, we can deliver more capacity – and slightly more energy – without adding more water. That’s what the future renewable energy system needs.”

The current Aura power plant consists of two stations, Aura and Osbu. Since 1953, the facility has been a contributor to electricity production in the Møre og Romsdal region. It is located near Hydro Sunndal, Europe’s primary and most modern aluminum plant and Norway’s largest power consumer. 

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Statkraft