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Background
Norwegian hydropower plants have an average age of approximately 45-50 years, and
together with future changes in the electricity market it is expected that the Norwegian
power system has to be rebuilt.
Upgrading of power plants is often said to have a potential for increased power generation
in the range of 2-3 %. However, experience from completed projects shows that upgrading
in combination with expansion can release a far higher energy potential than previously
estimated.
This thesis will include a thorough review of a sample of projects with the aim to examine
how what we define as the energy potential depends on various parameters as electricity
pricing, age of the facilities, environmental factors and implementation of reservoirs and
pumped-storage facilities etc.
On this basis it will be made an attempt to assess the overall energy potential in upgrading
and expansion of hydropower plants in Norway.
Master Thesis
Department of Hydraulic and
Environmental Engineering
Upgrading and Expansion
of Hydropower Plants -
Potential
By Mikal Naug Aas
Supervisors: Leif Lia and
Ånund Killingtveit