GE Vernova’s hydropower business announced has been selected by Hafslund Eco to deliver new rotorpoles for the 280MW water-cooled generators used by the Aurland-1 Hydropower Plant in Norway.
The replacement of the rotorpoles on the three water-cooled generators will help maintain the efficiency of the generators for decades.
Built between 1969-1989, the Aurland 1 HPP represents Hafslund Eco’s largest power plant, and Norway’s third largest hydropower plant, delivering 840MW of renewable energy to the country.
The services activities will be completed between the summer 2025 and 2027.
The rotorpoles are to be assembled in GE Vernova’s Norway Services Workshop in Lier.
To optimise downtime, Hafslund Eco also decided to combine the service of the water-cooled generators with the refurbishment programme of the hydropower plant expected within the same timeframe.
Water-cooled generators can offer up to 20-30% higher power output and higher efficiency than conventional air-cooled generators, reducing operating temperatures and ventilation losses.
GE Vernova’s hydropower business has demonstrated its expertise delivering components for projects in Norway and beyond.
Tormod Kleppa, Director of Projects at Hafslund ECO, said: “We are happy to be working with GE on this project.
“The servicing of our Aurland 1 is an important project for us and we are glad to count on GE to deliver the new Rotorpoles while the refurbishment program is undergoing.”
In Norway, more than 90% of power generation comes from hydropower (~33 GW installed base). According to the International Hydropower Association (IHA).
Pascal Radue, Hydropower President & CEO, GE Vernova, said: “Norway has been an inspiring example of how hydropower can contribute to the energy transition by delivering a large amount of renewable energy in the very long term.
“Today, the average age of the fleet is about 50 years, opening up for refurbishment needs, that will help extend the lifetime but also increase even more the efficiency of hydropower plants, without any need to re-build a dam.
“We are thrilled to partner with Hafslund ECO on this service project.”