Refsdal at a Glance
Refsdal is a [Kraftverk-type hydropower installation][1] located in Vik municipality, Vestland county, Norway. Operated by [STATKRAFT ENERGI AS][2], the plant has been in continuous operation since January 1968. The facility draws water from the [Dalselvi watershed][3], positioning it within a strategically important hydrological system in western Norway.
The plant operates within the NO5 electricity price zone, connecting to the broader Nordic power market through Statnett's transmission infrastructure. Its proximity to regional industrial capacity and established grid connections makes it a relevant asset for investors evaluating hydropower exposure in Scandinavia.
Ownership & Concession Status
Refsdal operates under an active concession granted by the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE). The primary concession holder is [STATKRAFT ENERGI AS][2], Norway's largest energy producer and a major operator of hydropower assets across the country.
As a Statkraft-operated facility, Refsdal benefits from:
- Established operational and maintenance protocols
- Integration into a diversified hydropower portfolio
- Access to professional grid-balancing and market participation infrastructure
For detailed information on Statkraft's broader asset base, concession portfolio, and financial performance, visit the [operator profile page][2].
Hydrological Context: Dalselvi System
Refsdal is part of the [Dalselvi watershed][3], a precipitation-fed system in western Norway. The Dalselvi catchment area influences water availability, seasonal flow patterns, and long-term yield characteristics for this facility.
Understanding the hydrological context is essential for:
- Assessing seasonal production variability
- Evaluating multi-year water balance trends
- Contextualizing performance against regional benchmarks
Detailed hydrological data—including catchment area, mean annual precipitation, and historical flow statistics—are available to registered users in the HydroSec platform.
Regional Location & Grid Integration
Municipality: Vik County: Vestland Price Zone: NO5 Nearest Statnett Transformer Station: Refsdal (~0.1 km)
The plant's immediate proximity to the Refsdal transformer station indicates efficient grid connection with minimal transmission losses. The NO5 zone encompasses parts of western Norway and connects to the broader Nordic electricity market, providing liquidity for power sales and hedging.
The nearest significant industrial cluster is Høyanger (Hydro aluminium operations), approximately 35 km away. This regional context reflects the traditional co-location of hydropower and energy-intensive manufacturing in western Norway.
Data Centre Suitability Assessment
HydroSec rates Refsdal with an A-grade data centre suitability score, indicating strong technical and infrastructural alignment with modern data centre power requirements.
This assessment reflects:
- Stable, long-term operational history (since 1968)
- Reliable grid connection to Statnett infrastructure
- Active concession status with no regulatory impediments
- Regional power availability within the NO5 zone
The A-grade designation suggests the facility meets baseline criteria for supporting mission-critical, continuous-duty loads typical of hyperscale data centre operations. However, specific capacity constraints, voltage specifications, and detailed infrastructure assessments are available only to registered users.
What You'll Access After Registration
The HydroSec platform provides registered users with detailed technical and financial data currently not displayed on this public page:
- Installed capacity and annual production figures (MWh/year)
- Gross head, turbine type, and equipment specifications
- Detailed hydrological profiles (catchment area, mean annual inflow, seasonal distribution)
- Sub-scores for data centre suitability (power quality, grid stability, redundancy factors)
- Ownership history and concession timeline
- Comparative benchmarking against similar plants in the region
These data are restricted to ensure compliance with Norwegian data protection standards and to maintain the competitive value of HydroSec's proprietary analysis.
Risks and Limitations
Regulatory and Concession Risk: Hydropower concessions in Norway are subject to periodic review and potential modification by the NVE. Changes to environmental requirements, water discharge protocols, or grid connection terms could affect operational economics.
Hydrological Variability: Annual water availability in the Dalselvi system is subject to precipitation patterns and climate variability. Investors should not assume constant year-on-year production; multi-year historical data is essential for realistic return modelling.
Market Price Risk: Power prices in the NO5 zone are determined by Nordic market dynamics, including cross-border flows, renewable capacity additions, and seasonal demand. Investors exposed to merchant power sales face commodity price volatility.
Data Limitations: This public page presents only verified, non-sensitive information. Detailed technical specifications, financial performance, and infrastructure assessments require platform registration and may be subject to confidentiality agreements.
No Guarantees: HydroSec's data centre suitability ratings are qualitative assessments based on available technical and regulatory information. They do not constitute investment advice, engineering certification, or guarantees of future performance or profitability.
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Data Sources: Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), Statnett AS grid registry. Last verified: [current date]. For the most current regulatory and operational status, consult the [NVE public register][4].