SOME TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Power Station Number of Effect Average Share of Entered aggregates (MW) production ownership by into (GW h / year) Statkraft operation (%)

Alta 2 150 625 100 1987 ALTA

HISTORY REGULATION

The Alta/Kautokeino watercourse has its source in the far 1970 1974 1976 1978 CREATING VALUE THE SOURCE south of the Finnmark plateau, near the border with Finland. Statkraft is Norway’s Hydroelectric power is clean and renewable – and is Planning was Application for a Recommendation The bill from the largest land-based tax- actually a form of solar power. Water that evaporates The power station was constructed A dam has been constructed to collect started for utili- concession from ready in Decem- Ministry of Petro- payer. Our production due to solar energy returns in the form of precipitation. about 40 kilometres from the outlet of water for power generation. From the sing the power in Statkraft. Process- ber 1976. leum and Energy activities generate Rivers and waterfalls are used for the production of the Alta river. During the 170 kilometres 125 metres high dam to the outlet from the Alta/Kauto- ing of the conces- was submitted on significant wealth, power, and large dams store the water for later use. to its outlet, the river receives the power station, the river has been keino water- sion application 10 March. The Nor- which is returned to commences. The infiltration from much of the Finnmark drained along a 2-kilometre stretch. course. Other wegian Parliament society through Thanks to hydroelectric power, we need not base our board of the Nor- plateau. Salmon migrate up and down This gives us a reservoir which is 18 km outline plans had approved the dividends, taxes and supply of electricity on fossil fuels or nuclear power, as wegian Water Re- the lowermost 40 kilometres of the long and which, when it is full, dams been prepared development plan other public liens and many other countries do. Norway is like an island of sources and Energy river. The power station utilises a fall 2.9 km2. Here, the water is 15 metres for utilising the for the Alta water- charges. Statkraft also clean and renewable hydroelectric power in Northern- Directive carried of 185 metres from the 18 kilometre- higher than the natural water level in power of the out site visits in the course on 30 contributes actively to Europe. long reservoir, Virdnejávri. the Virdnejávri. The quantity of water watercourse. summer of the November. Norwegian society, that we have dammed corresponds to same year. providing financial Our country is built, literally speaking, by hydroelectric The development covers the regulation no more than 6% of the water which support to sports & power. Our economic growth and progress corresponded of the Virdnejávri lake as the only flowed out of the lake in an average athletics, culture and closely with the building of power stations. Electricity reservoir and the construction of the year before the dam was constructed. other activities and was the most important production factor in the power station, and affects the stretch 1979 1982 1987 good causes. Our social industrialization of Norway, which freed our country between the outlet from Ladnetjávri engagement is from being a poor and underdeveloped place on the The detailed Because of the extensive demonstrati- Alta power station and the confluence of the Alta river organised under the outskirts of Europe. The great change took place after conditions for ons against the development, work on was commissioned and Joatkajokka. auspices of local clubs 1850, and gathered speed after the dissolution of the the development the construction road to the power in May and the and associations and in union in 1905 when Norway once again became an were set out in a station area did not start until the official opening close cooperation with independent nation. Electricity was an important part of Royal Resolution autumn. was celebrated on the local authorities the foundation for the enormous economic growth which on 15 June. 3 September of who host Statkraft’s occurred, and at the same time, in the course of a half The Alta development is the hydro- this year. electric development which has attrac- activities. century, it would completely transform Norwegian ted the most attention in both the homes. The wood-fired stoves with cooking plates in the political world and in public debate. kitchen and oil lamps were thrown out for good and The decision to develop the Alta/ replaced with electric stoves, panel heaters, lamps, Kautokeino watercourse led to the electrical appliances and computers. l u

most comprehensive case ever handled t o . n by the Supreme Court. o ALTA AREAS OF REGULATION ALTA

THIS IS HOW ELECTRICITY IS NATURE AND THE PRODUCED: ALTA POWER STATION MACHINE HALL. ENVIRONMENT

The water is collected in dams up in To reduce losses during transport from Recent power development schemes In order to improve conditions for fish the mountains. It is then released the power station to the consumer take into account environmental and in regulated watercourses, we try through tunnels and shafts heading centres, the voltage is transformed up landscaping requirements at a much various measures. In some cases these down towards the power station and to 132 kV. Then the power is carried out earlier stage in planning than was the are combined with the setting out of the turbines. The water drives the to the national grid. Before the case for developments in previous fry and juvenile fish. turbine which spins the generator electricity arrives at your socket, the years. Through a considerable effort in mounted on the same shaft. voltage is once again reduced to a level research and development, we also The construction of thresholds, which suits the stove, washing continuously implement measures planting and seeding are also done on In the generator the mechanical energy machine and freezer. during and after development to ensure a large scale. Wherever there is a need, is converted to electrical energy. The that nature and the environment will tidying up after previous developments voltage in the generators in Alta power be disturbed and affected to the least is done. station are 9.5 and 14 kV (kilovolt). possible degree.

Reservoir

Dam Transmission- lines

Intake Aggregate European road Hydroelectric National road power station Transformer District road Dam Municipal road Private road Headrace Generator Tractor road Generator shaft Car ferry Marked path; Foot path Path Power line – high voltage Power line – low voltage Under sea and underground cable Turbine Tunnel – water carrying Tailrace Tunnel – non water carrying ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS AT CROSS SECTION OF A HYDROPOWER PLANT. Pipeline VIRDNEJÁVRI.

MAP BASIS: NORWEGIAN MAPPING AUTHORITY/CONCESSION NO. 2001/553