Heavy-Duty Crane Supports Hydropower Expansion

Hafslund Kraft AS, Norway’s second-largest power producer, is expanding its Hemsil hydropower facility in Hallingdal with the construction of a new underground powerhouse and additional generating capacity. The Hemsil 3 project includes a third turbine and generator unit, a new dam and parallel water infrastructure connected to the existing Hemsil 2 plant.

The expansion is intended to increase annual renewable electricity production by approximately 110 GWh, bringing the total output of the Hemsil facility to around 700 GWh per year. The project forms part of Hafslund Kraft’s long-term investment strategy for renewable energy infrastructure.

Crane Designed for Underground Hydropower Operations
To support installation and future maintenance activities inside the underground powerhouse, Hafslund Kraft ordered a 170-tonne double girder overhead bridge crane from Konecranes. The order was booked in January 2026, with delivery and installation scheduled for 2027.

The crane is intended to handle heavy and critical equipment used in hydropower generation, including the generator rotor, which must be lifted as a single piece during installation and maintenance procedures. Such lifts require high positioning accuracy and stable load handling within confined underground conditions.

The delivery scope includes crane design, manufacturing, crane rails, power supply systems, installation, commissioning, testing, certification and operator training.

Focus on Safety and Precision
The crane is equipped with 20-tonne and 5-tonne auxiliary hoists to support different lifting operations within the facility. The system also includes frequency-controlled motions to improve positioning accuracy and reduce load stress during movement.

Additional features specified for the Hemsil 3 project include wireless radio control with a backup pendant system, redundant hoisting brakes, overload protection with digital load display, sway control and LED lighting. These functions were selected to support safe operation and stable load handling in the underground powerhouse environment.

According to Konecranes, the combination of redundant safety systems and motion control technologies is intended to improve operational reliability during long-term use under demanding hydropower conditions.

Supporting Long-Term Renewable Energy Infrastructure
Jens Björk, Process Cranes Sales Manager for Industrial Equipment at Konecranes, stated that cranes used in underground hydropower facilities must operate reliably over long service periods while handling extremely heavy components in restricted spaces.

The crane solution supplied for Hemsil 3 was specified to support both the installation phase and the long-term maintenance requirements of the hydropower plant. The company emphasized operational safety, load control and durability as key technical priorities for the project.

The Hemsil 3 expansion represents one of the largest hydropower capacity additions in the Hallingdal region in recent years and reflects continued investment in renewable energy production infrastructure in Norway.

Edited by Maria Brueva, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

www.konecranes.com