Small Hydro

Flateland small hydro plant opens in southern Norway

Flateland small hydro plant opens in southern Norway
Flateland Power Plant was completed within the budget and ahead of schedule (Credit: Suomen Voima Oy)

The 9.5 MW Flateland Power Plant in Agder County, Norway, has been completed in “record” time and within budget, Suomen Voima Oy said.

The Flateland Power Plant had been under construction since 2021 and will produce 47 GWh of electricity.

Suomen Voima Oy is the largest owner of the power plant with 90% ownership. In addition, 15 minority shareholders own 10%. The Norwegian hydropower company Cadre AS operates the power plant, and Suomen Voima leases the water rights from the landowners. Tinfos AS was the general contractor for the plant.

Cadre AS said production was able to start three months ahead of schedule, and the power plant had been in trial operation since January of this year.

The Flateland power plant adds to Suomen Voima’s hydropower portfolio as the eighth operating small-scale hydropower plant the company owns in southern and western Norway. 

“Flateland project has been exceptional not only for the outcome but also for the process where all stakeholders and local people have been brought together to make this happen,” said Pekka Saijonmaa, chief executive officer of Suomen Voima. “We want to thank Cadre and Tinfos for the key roles in the project as well as landowners and other stakeholders for their contribution.”

Member of Parliament Gro-Anita Mykjåland, who is also a member of the Energy and Environment Committee, cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony in late August.

“We need many more projects like Flateland, and we need them before 2030,” Mykjåland said. “Much more renewable energy can be developed in Norway. To achieve this, small-scale hydropower is an important and powerful contribution.”