Statkraft plans licences for Høyanger K5, Breidal hydro

Statkraft is seeking a licence from Norway’s NVE to replace the Høyanger K5A/B plants with new Høyanger K5 and Breidal hydropower plants, boosting installed capacity from about 109 MW to roughly 257 MW and annual output from around 700 GWh to about 780 GWh, part of a broader plan to upgrade Norway’s hydropower assets. The project forms part of Statkraft’s announced NOK 80 billion investment plan for Norway over the next decade, with a development framework just under NOK 3 billion. In parallel, ABB has been chosen to modernize the Vikfalli hydropower complex, upgrading control, protection, and excitation systems across three plants (Målset, Refsdal, Hove) to improve reliability, remote monitoring, and compliance with evolving grid codes for higher shares of renewables. The Vikfalli complex currently generates about 830 GWh per year, and the modernization, booked in Q2 2026, aims to extend asset life with no disclosed financial terms. Hydropower remains Norway’s dominant electricity source, accounting for around 90% of generation in June 2026, underscoring the importance of these upgrades for energy security. Separately, indigenous Mapuche Williche communities in southern Chile have filed a complaint with the Norwegian Consumer Authority over Statkraft’s human rights due diligence related to its Rucatayo and Los Lagos hydropower projects, highlighting concerns over consent, cultural rights, and potential harm, with Statkraft yet to comment publicly on the allegations.