hydro-iceland


Blanda Location: Northwest Operator: Landsvirkjun Configuration: 3 X 50 MW Francis Operation: 1991-1992 T/G supplier: Fuchunjiang, Fuji EPC: VST, Fossvirk Quick facts: Blanda is on the Blanda river in northern Iceland. The main reservoir is 40km northwest of Hofsjökull glacier. The underground powerhouse and related structures are 25km downstream, 40km south of Blönduós town. Photograph courtesy of Verkis Posted 13 Jan 2010	Búðarháls Location: South Operator: Landsvirkjun Configuration: 2 X 47.5 MW Francis Operation: 2013 T/G supplier: Voith, VG Power EPC: Mott MacDonald, Acres Intl, Rafhonnun, Istak Quick facts: Búðarháls is in Tungnaá, in the Þjórsá-Tungnaá area in South Iceland between Sultartangi PS and Hrauneyjarfoss PS. The EIA was approved in 2001 and construction got underway at the beginning of Nov 2010. Estimated production is up to 585 GW/yr. The intake reservoir, Sporðöldulón will be created with a 2.1km log, 24m high dam over Köldukvísl, north of the confluence of Köldukvísl and Tungnaá and just below Hrauneyjarfoss. A headrace channel will run to Búðarháls, and from there, through a 4km headrace tunnel to the powerhouse. A 330m tailrace channel will run from the power house to the Sultartangalón reservoir. The project also includes a 7km, 220kW tie-line to Hrauneyjarfoss. In Apr 2011 Landsvirkjun and Landsbanki signed a $100mn bond issue to assure project funding regardless of sovereign debt ratings. In Mar 2011, a $70mn loan agreement was made with the Nordic Investment Bank and a €70mn loan agreement was made with the European Investment Bank. In Jun 2010, Landsvirkjun and Alcan signed an energy sale agreement to supply the Straumsvík aluminum smelter. Photo dates to Jul 2011. Photograph courtesy of Landsvirkjun Posted 10 Mar 2012	Dalsorka Location: Westfjords Operator: Dalsorka ehf Configuration: 1 X 500 kW Operation: 2002 T/G supplier: GHE EPC: Orkuver Quick facts: This is a community power station at Súgandafirði. It went commercial on 3 Feb 2002. Photograph courtesy of Orkuver ehf Posted 28 Aug 2010

Djúpadalsvirkjun Location: Northeast Operator: Nordurorka hf Configuration: 1 X 1.8 MW, 1 X 900 kW Operation: 2005 T/G supplier: ?? EPC: Mannvit Photograph courtesy of Norduroka hf Posted 28 Aug 2010	Glerárvirkjun Location: Northeast Operator: Nordurorka hf Configuration: 1 X 290 kW Operation: 2005 T/G supplier: ?? Quick facts: This SHP was rebuilt 45yrs after first going online. Photograph courtesy of Norduroka hf Posted 28 Aug 2010	Hrauneyjafoss Location: South Operator: Landsvirkjun Configuration: 3 X 70 MW Francis Operation: 1981 T/G supplier: Nohab, Asea EPC: Harza, VST, Fossvirk Quick facts: This power station is on the Tungnaa River. The site is connected at 220kV to Sigalda and Sultartangi. Construction started in 1977. Photograph courtesy of Landsvirkjun Posted 5 Feb 2005

Irafoss Location: South Operator: Landsvirkjun Configuration: 2 X 15.5 MW, 1 X 16.7 MW Francis Operation: 1953-1963 T/G supplier: Tampella, Karlstad. WHC, Asea Quick facts: This plant harnesses two waterfalls, Irafoss and Kistufoss, in the lower Sog River system. Photograph courtesy of Landsvirkjun Posted 5 Feb 2005	Kárahnjúkar Location: Iceland Operator: Landsvirkjun Configuration: 6 X 115 MW Francis Operation: 2007 T/G supplier: VA TECH EPC: VST, Mott, Hochtief, Pihl & Son, Istak, Harza, Electrowatt, Impregilo, Íslenskir aðalverktakar Quick facts: This is the largest power plant in Iceland and was one of Europe's biggest engineering and construction efforts in years. The 193m high, 730m long concrete-faced rock fill dam shown is the largest of three dams on the Jökulsá á Dal River and is the highest of its kind in Europe. The total length of the tunnels involved in the Kárahnjúkar project is about 73km. The Fljótsdalur powerhuse is situated inside Valþjófsstaðarfjall at the bottom of 600m tunnels. Work began in 2002. Annual production is expected to be about 4,600 GWh. Photograph courtesy of Landsvirkjun Posted 17 Sep 2008	Lagarfoss Location: East Operator: Rarik Configuration: 1 X 7.5 MW, 1 X 20 MW Kaplan Operation: 1975-2007 T/G supplier: CKD, Litostroj, Koncar EPC: VST, Norauverk Quick facts: Lagarfoss is a low-head, run-of-river SHP in east Iceland on the glacial river Lagarfljót flowing from Vatnajökull glacier. The station was extended from 2005-2007 to take advantage of additional flows after the Kárahnjúkar plant went into operation. Photograph courtesy of Verkis Posted 13 Jan 2010

Ljosafoss Location: South Operator: Landsvirkjun Configuration: 2 X 4.4 MW, 1 X 5.8 MW Francis Operation: 1937-1944 T/G supplier: Karlstad, Asea, SMS, GE Quick facts: Ljosafoss was the first power station on the Sog River east of the mountains separating Reykjavik from Iceland's southern lowlands. Photograph courtesy of Landsvirkjun Posted 8 Mar 2003	Sigalda Location: South Operator: Landsvirkjun Configuration: 3 X 50.5 MW Francis Operation: 1977-1978 T/G supplier: Kharkov, Electrosila EPC: Virkhir, Electrowatt, Energoprojekt Quick facts: Sigalda on the Tungnaa River was Iceland's second major hydro plant. Construction started in 1973. A tailrace canal leads from the partially underground powerhouse to Hrauneyjafoss reservoir. Sigalda is linked by 220kV transmission lines to the Sultartangi, Hrauneyjafoss and Vatnsfell stations, and a 132kV line to the southeast. Photograph courtesy of Landsvirkjun Posted 5 Feb 2005	Sultartangi Location: South Operator: Landsvirkjun Configuration: 2 X 60 MW Francis Operation: 2000 T/G supplier: Sulzer, Skoda Quick facts: Sultartangi is the fifth large-scale power station built by Landsvirkjun in Iceland. Construction began in 1997 and the station went online in January 2000. It utilizes water from a reservoir formed when the rivers Thjorsa and Tungna were dammed by a 6,100m earthen dam, the longest in Iceland. A headrace tunnel through Mt Sandafell empties into a surge basin, at the end of which is the powerhouse intake. Photograph copyright by and courtesy of VA TECH Posted 24 May 2003

Steingrimsstod Location: South Operator: Landsvirkjun Configuration: 2 X 13.5 MW Kaplan Operation: 1959 T/G supplier: Maier, Asea Quick facts: Steingrimsstod harnesses a 20.5m head where the Upper Sog drains from Lake Thingvallavatn into Lake Ulfljotsvatn. From a dam on Lake Thingvallavatn, a tunnel runs through Drattarhlid into an open-air surge tank above the powerhouse. A shaft leads from the surge tank to the turbines. Photograph courtesy of Landsvirkjun Posted 5 Feb 2005	Threva Location: Westfjords Operator: Orkubu Vestfjarda hf Configuration: 1 X 2.3 MW Francis Operation: 1975-2007 T/G supplier: CKD, Litostroj, Koncar EPC: VST, Verkis Quick facts: Planning for this plant began around 1950 and the first 560-kW turbine went online in 1953. The plant was rebuilt in 1963 and a 1.2-MW set installed, and rebuilt again from 200-2002 when the current 2.3-MW machine was commissioned. The site is in Steingrímsfjörður in northwest Iceland. Photograph courtesy of Verkis Posted 13 Jan 2010	Vatnsfell Location: South Operator: Landsvirkjun Configuration: 2 X 45 MW Francis Operation: 2001 T/G supplier: CGE EPC: Hönnun, VST, Rafhönnun, Lahmeyer, Slenskir Adalverktakar, Arnarfell Quick facts: Construction began at Vatnsfell Station in June 1999 and the plant was finished in just over two years. A 730m long, 30m high dam was built across the diversion canal between Lake Thórisvatn and the Sigalda reservoir Krókslón. Water from a small intake reservoir is carried to the powerhouse. Unlike other Icelandic hydro plants, Vatnsfell only produces electricity in the winter. Photograph courtesy of Landsvirkjun Posted 5 Feb 2005