two power stations in the enterprise, Framfuste and Øyberget power stations, were completed and commissioned in 2005. The picture was taken during the construction period at Framruste power station.

Øvre Otta strongly dominated the news when Stortinget enacted the law to develop the project in 1999. Stortinget reduced the contractors’ original plans by half, so that the development will yield an annual production of 525 GWh.

The projecting of Øvre Otta started in 1992, and the application for concession was submitted in 1996. The King in Council granted concession for the development in September 2001.

Framruste power station utilises the head between the already existing Raudalsmagasinet (the Raudal dam) in Skjåk Municipality, and Lake Pollsvatnet in Øvre Otta. The head is 325m.

The Raudal dam was constructed in the 1940s in order to increase the winter discharge in the lower part of Glomma. The dam is 41 m high, and the storage capacity is 166 million m³ of water.

 

The water is carried in a tunnel to Framruste power station. The power station is built inside the mountain south of the Framruste river. The water is transferred from the power station into Øvre Otta in Pollenvatnet downstream from Pollfossen waterfall.

The development of Øvre Otta appears to be an environmentally friendly power project par excellence. An already existing reservoir is utilised, and both power stations are constructed near roads. The impact on nature has been limited.