| Overview
The River Suldalslågen is situated in Rogaland, south-western Norway. At the headwaters, Suldalsvatn Reservoir is 22 km long and has a 68 m head before its confluence with the Sandsfjord. The catchment area is affected by two regulation schemes; the Røldal-Suldal, initiated in 1967 (operated by Hydro), and the Ulla-Førre initiated in 1980 (operated by Statkraft).
Ulla-Førre is Norway’s largest hydropower complex, with a total capacity of 2057 MW and an annual mean production of 4.5 TWh. The main power station, Kvilldal, with a capacity of 1240 MW, is Norway’s largest power station. The main intake for the complex is 600 m ASL, and captures inflow from 39 rivers and brooks. Storage capacity is limited and water is pumped through the combined pump and power station of Saurdal to the main storage in the Blåsjø reservoir. Blåsjø is an artificial lake at 1000 m ASL, established by damming a number of small lakes. From the Blåsjø reservoir the water is utilized first in the Saurdal power station, then in Kvilldal power station and finally into Lake Suldalsvatn and the associated Hylen Power Station.
The Suldalslågen River has the largest natural water flow in the region, with unregulated flow averaging 91 m3/sec. During flood episodes, flow rates can reach 700 m3/sec through periods of reduced flow can be as little as 5 m3/sec. Mean precipitation is 2000 mm/year.
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