In an earlier version of the article, NRK wrote that “Norwegian hydropower will operate German trains”, but according to Statkraft, this is not correct.
It was last year that Statkraft entered into an agreement with Deutsche Bahn to deliver 190 gigawatts of electricity to the German train company. The agreement applies for 10 years from 2023.
In a press release last year, Deutsche Bahn wrote that the power comes from the Mågeli hydropower plant in Hardanger. But the power does not come from here, says press contact at the company, Knut Fjerdingstad.
– These are guarantees of origin, which are very common in European countries. Physically speaking, the electricity does not exactly come from this power plant. But when we buy power for them, we guarantee that it comes from renewable power production, says press contact at Statkraft, Knut Fjerdingstad.
– Does not affect the power balance
According to Statkraft, the agreement thus does not affect the power balance in Norway.
– We have purchased power for Deutsche Bahn, which we guarantee is renewable. But the physical electrons come from their nearest power station, says Fjerdingstad.
– But why does DB write that the power will come from a specific power plant in Hardanger, if it is not true?
– I actually don’t know, and I can well understand that it is confusing, says Knut Fjerdingstad.
According to Deutsche Bahn, it is the Nordlink international cable between Germany and Norway that makes it possible for the German train company to buy this renewable electricity. The cable became operational in April last year.
– Cuts emissions
From next year, these trains can run on hydropower from Hardanger. DB’s trains had 4.8 billion passengers in 2019.
Photo: MARIO VEDDER / AFP
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Deutsche Bahn is concerned that the renewable electricity means that they cut emissions by 146,000 tonnes of Co₂ a year compared to using coal power.
The German transport company now gets 61 percent of its electricity from renewable sources. The goal is for 100 percent of the electricity to power the trains to be renewable by 2038.
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