Urrišafoss hydropower plant in Thjorsa river

Landsvirkjun is planning to build a 150 MW hydropower plant at Urridafoss in the Lower Thjorsa river, which will further utilise reservoirs in Upper Thjorsa and Tungna rivers. A dam will be built across Thjorsa at Heidartangi, extending 8 km upstream on the west side of the river and forming a 12,5 km² reservoir with 27 million cubic meter capacity. The planned station intake will be at Heidartangi just east of the current river course with a underground powerhouse northeast of the farm Thjorsartun. The water will be discharged from the powerhouse in a 3 km long tailrace tunnel that opens into the rivercourse below Urridafoss rapids. Special attention must be paid to earthquake design when designing the structures, in addition to traditional design. Furthermore, attention must be paid to sedimentation and frazil ice. The Project Planning Report was made in co-operation with Sweco international AB (Sweden) and Rafhonnun Engineers. In addition Hnit carried out the enviromental impact assessment for the project as well as the cartography for Lower Thjorsa river.

Before the project planning works started, Hnit and Sweco International AB carried out a reconnaissancy study of the hydropower development of lower Thjorsa, from Burfell to the coast. The report contains aimed to find suitable ways of harnessing this 70 km long section of the river, with a total head of 123 m.

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