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Sultartangi hydropower plant

The Sultartangi hydroelectric project is located between the Sultartangi reservoir and the Búrfell HEP in the Þjórsá river.

It is a part of a series of reservoirs and power stations in the Þjórsá river and Tungnaá river area.



Project overview

The rivers were dammed in 1982-1984, forming Sultartangi reservoir. The Sultartangi HEP harnesses the same water as Vatnsfell, Hrauneyjafoss and Sigalda stations as well as additional water from Þjórsá.
The Sultartangi HEP consists of an embankment dam east of the Sandafell hill where the Þjórsá and Tungnaá rivers were dammed in 1982-1984, one kilometer upstream of their confluence. A spillway equipped with five rubber gates is located at the southeast end of the dam and a bottom outlet with a gate structure is located at the west end. Upstream from the bottom outlet a short headrace canal leads the water through a headrace tunnel in the Sandafell hill towards a surge basin on its southwestern side.
From a power intake downstream of the surge basin the water goes through two steel penstocks to the powerhouse which is above ground level but excavated into the hillside. A tailrace canal is excavated from the powerhouse along the right river bank and into Þjórsá river upstream of the intake structure of Búrfell power station.
The substation is equipped with gas insulated switchgear (GIS) and is linked to 220 kV transmission lines to Hrauneyjafoss station and to a substation in Hvalfjörður. The power station is connected via gateways to the dispatch control in Reykja­vík from where the station is controlled and supervised. The protection relays are mostly digital with data communication links to the respective control system. The buildings have conventional lighting systems, telecommunication wiring system, fire alarm and intrusion alarm systems.
Verkís services was feasibility study, project planning, economic study, tender documents, civil work design, mechanical systems design, electrical systems design, environmental impact assessment, supervision, commissioning and startup.
220kv

Transmission Connection



5

Rubber Spillway Gates



The Challenge

Sultartangi Hydropower Plant was developed as a key component of the Þjórsá–Tungnaá hydropower system, harnessing water from multiple upstream reservoirs to increase renewable electricity generation. The project required the integration of dams, tunnels, hydraulic structures and power generation systems into an efficient and reliable hydropower scheme.

Our Solution

Verkís provided comprehensive engineering services throughout the project, including feasibility studies, project planning, economic analysis, environmental impact assessment, tender documentation and multidisciplinary engineering design. Our work covered civil, mechanical and electrical systems, together with construction supervision, commissioning and start-up, ensuring the successful integration of the plant into Iceland’s national power system.

The Result

Sultartangi has become an important link in Iceland’s interconnected hydropower network, improving the efficiency and flexibility of renewable electricity production in the Þjórsá–Tungnaá region. Through integrated engineering, project management and commissioning expertise, Verkís helped deliver a reliable hydropower facility that continues to support Iceland’s sustainable energy infrastructure.


Technical information

Location:


Þjórsá river, Iceland


Size:


130 megawatts


Project period:


1993 – 2001





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