Slovenia Powers Norway's Largest Clean Energy Battery

Norway is about to turn its mountains into Europe's largest clean energy storage system, and a Slovenian company is making it happen.

Litostroj Power, a leading turbine manufacturer from Slovenia, signed a contract to supply the pump turbine and systems for the Illvatn pumped-storage hydropower plant in western Norway. The facility will store excess renewable energy by pumping water uphill when the grid has surplus power, then releasing it through turbines when demand rises.

The project represents Norway's electricity producer Hydro Energy's biggest investment in two decades. Located in the municipality of Luster along western Norway's dramatic coastline, the plant will cost €220 million and become operational in 2030.

Pumped-storage hydropower works like a giant rechargeable battery for the electrical grid. During windy nights when turbines generate more power than needed, the plant pumps water from a lower reservoir to an upper one. When solar panels stop producing at sunset or wind dies down, that stored water flows back down through turbines to generate electricity exactly when people need it.

"The Illvatn project is a major achievement for us as it marks our return to Norway, where we have successfully delivered projects in the past," said Litostroj Power CEO Jure Andročec. The company employs over 250 people in Slovenia and exports more than 20 turbines annually, with 99% of its revenue coming from international sales.

The Ripple Effect

This project shows how smaller nations are punching above their weight in the clean energy transition. Slovenia, a country of just two million people, is supplying critical technology for Scandinavia's renewable energy infrastructure.

Litostroj Power has already established strong markets in Sweden and Finland, and this Norwegian contract expands their Nordic footprint even further. Their expertise in medium and large hydro plants positions them as essential partners in Europe's push to balance intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar.

The Illvatn plant will help Norway manage its growing renewable energy supply while supporting the broader European grid's stability. As more countries add solar and wind power, storage solutions like pumped hydro become the backbone that keeps lights on when nature doesn't cooperate.

Norway is betting big that mountains filled with water will power Europe's clean energy future, and Slovenia is building the technology to make it work.