Sima power plant

The power plant includes the regulating facilities and the two power stations Lang-Sima and Sy-Sima in a common machine hall. Power production started in 1980.

The total length of tunnels and shafts blasted through the rock is 61.3 kilometres. The largest water reservoirs are the Lakes Langvatn, Rundavatn, Rembesdalsvatn and Sysenvatnet, all with rockfill dam walls. The plant regulates three waterfalls; Vøringsfossen, Skykkjedalsfossen and Rembesdalsfossen.

Sima power plant is regarded as a stellar example of the art of hydropower engineering. Sima is the second largest power plant in Norway measured in total capacity.

Lang-Sima power station uses a catchment area approximately 1,100 metres above sea level, south and west of the Hardangerjøkulen glacier i.e. the vertical stretches of the Norddøla and Austdøla rivers down to Osafjorden, and a catchment area approximately 1,170 metres above sea level that drains down the Sima River. The height of fall is 1,065 metres and the installed capacity of its two generating units is 500 MW.

Sy-Sima power station uses the catchment area of the Sima River and the upper stretches of the Bjoreia River and its tributaries the Leiro and Isdøla. The height of fall is 905 metres and the installed capacity of its two generating units is 620 MW.

Statkraft is owner and responsible for the daily operation and maintenance of Sima power plant. The other owners are Eviny (Bergenshalvøens Kommunale Kraftselskap) and SKL (Sunnhordland Kraftlag).