ABB to Modernize Three Statkraft Hydropower Plants in Norway, Reinforcing the Country's Renewable Energy Backbone

News release | August 18, 2026 | Zurich, Switzerland

ZURICH — August 18, 2026 — Global electrification and automation leader ABB has been selected by European renewable energy producer Statkraft AS to modernize the Vikfalli hydropower complex in Vik municipality, approximately 170 kilometers northeast of Bergen on Norway's west coast. The three-plant group — comprising the Målset (24 MW), Refsdal (92 MW) and Hove (68 MW) power stations with a total of five generating units — produces about 830 GWh of clean electricity every year, enough to power roughly 53,000 Norwegian homes. The order was booked in the second quarter of 2026; financial terms were not disclosed.

The comprehensive modernization scope spans the complete renewal of control, protection, excitation and electrical infrastructure — work that will extend the operational life of assets critical to Norway's reliable supply of low-carbon electricity. Hydropower accounted for nearly 90 percent of Norway's total electricity generation in June 2026, underscoring why the country's aging hydro fleet must be future-proofed to maintain both domestic energy security and its balancing role for interconnected European power markets.

At the heart of the upgrade is the ABB Ability™ System 800xA® distributed control system (DCS) and monitoring platform, which will be integrated with existing third-party turbine systems to create one unified operational environment across the entire Vikfalli complex. All five generating units will be equipped with UNITROL® 8000 excitation systems, complemented by advanced cybersecurity, low- and medium-voltage electrical systems, vibration monitoring and protection, digital solutions, and cable supply and installation services.

The deployment of modern excitation and protection technology also supports compliance with evolving grid codes for generators — a critical requirement as power systems worldwide absorb growing volumes of variable renewable energy. By strengthening stability and resilience capabilities, the Vikfalli upgrade positions Statkraft's assets to deliver firm, dispatchable baseload power alongside intermittent wind and solar generation.

"The upgrade of Vikfalli is an important step in strengthening Norway's renewable energy infrastructure and we worked closely with ABB from the earliest stage to ensure the solution was optimized," said Inge Hass, Power Plant Manager of group Sogn at Statkraft.

The collaboration reflects a broader shift in how major owners of critical energy infrastructure procure long-life upgrades: technology partners are now being engaged in the early development phase to define and optimize technical solutions before main contracts are placed, reducing project risk and improving long-term outcomes. Site activities at Målset are scheduled to commence in 2028, with Refsdal and Hove following in 2029.

"Hydropower is an important part of an expanding energy system, helping to grow renewable capacity and deliver stable baseload power to the grid," said Per Erik Holsten, President of ABB's Energy Industries division. "The priority now is ensuring that existing assets such as Vikfalli are equipped to fulfill that role for future needs with modern control and digital solutions that enable them to run more safely, cleaner and leaner, and to be ready for tomorrow's grid requirements."

Globally, hydropower remains the world's third-largest source of electricity, contributing approximately 14 percent of total generation in 2024, with more than 154 GW of new capacity forecast to come online by the end of the decade. As the renewable energy transition accelerates, modernizing existing hydropower infrastructure — through advanced distributed control, digitalization and excitation systems — is emerging as one of the most cost-effective ways to expand clean, firm power capacity without building new dams.

About ABB: ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. With over 140 years of history and approximately 110,000 employees worldwide, ABB connects engineering and digitalization expertise to help industries run at high performance — what ABB calls "Engineered to Outrun." ABB's shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB).