Statkraft Energi AS would like to exploit the water from the Grasbotntjørni lake in the Ulvik district of Hordaland, and has applied for permission to build and operate the Grasbotn pump. The project will increase electricity output by 8 GWh.

The project will increase electricity output by 8 GWh.

The landscape has already been affected by the construction of previous hydropower schemes in the area.

Grasbotntjørni is part of the catchment area for Austdøla, which runs into the Nordøla at Osa, after which it runs down to the Osafjord.

The water from Grasbotntjørni will be transferred to the Langvatn reservoir and then on to Sima Power Plant. The water will ultimately be discharged into the Eidfjord.

Grasbotntjørni lies on contour line 1107, while the Langvatn reservoir has its highest regulated water level (HRV) at 1158. The two lakes are less than 200 m apart. By lifting/pumping water over into the Langvatn reservoir, it will be possible to exploit the fall in water down to the Sima power station. The energy equivalent for Langvatn is 2.79 kWh/m3. It is estimated that Grasbotntjørni will add an 3.08 million m3 of water to the Langvatn reservoir. Adjusted for pumping, this gives an increase in output of 8,015 MWh.