Bjørnstadåi power plant in Fyresdal is now open and in operation. The power plant will produce 4.5 GWh of electricity annually, equivalent to the consumption of 300 households.
The power plant uses water and waterfalls from the Bjørnstadåi and Gjerdåi rivers. Cord cutting at the power plant took place 3. June, and landowner Hans Bjørnstad is very pleased with the development.
– “We can now use the water resources in a better way, and we’ve also upgraded nine kilometers of road, which is an advantage for us and for the plant. It’s been important for us,” says Bjørnstad, who is one of four landowners. He is impressed with the efficiency and execution of the development. – The development has created more activity in the village and the collaboration with Småkraft, Kraftpartnar as a supplier and the contractor Bergum Anleggsteknikk has been very good.
Consideration for natural footprint and wild reindeer
The power plant blends in well with the surroundings in Fyresdal. The water flows freely from the Gjerdeelva river through marshland and bare rock from the outlet of the transmission line and into the main intake. Three intakes will be built, two of which will have a minimum water flow throughout the year. The pressure pipe is buried for the entire stretch, and the total length of the waterway is 2,315 meters.
– This is a marginal project that all parties have had to go to great lengths to realize. It’s a great “journeyman’s piece” as the first delivery for our new turnkey supplier Kraftpartnar. With a relatively gentle impact on nature in the area, it has become a very nice power plant,” says Terje Vedeler, CEO of Småkraft AS.
Consideration for wildlife and biodiversity during development is always important. As the power plant is located in the Våmur-Roan wild reindeer area, Villreinnemda has been consulted.
Large parts of the area around the power plant have also previously been characterized by human activity, mainly forestry. This includes areas with forest roads, logging fields and timber trails. The development has had little impact on local work, and the road to the power station is an upgrade of an existing forest road.
