Leonhard Nilsen & Sønner (LNS) has deployed Volvo Construction Equipment's (Volvo CE's) A30 Electric articulated haulers at the Hemsil 3 hydropower plant, currently under construction in the Hallingdal region.

The machines were delivered for work on behalf of Hafslund Kraft in an initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in large-scale energy infrastructure projects.

The Hemsil 3 construction, which spans the Hemsedal and Gol municipalities, is expected to finish by 2029.

Once operational, the hydropower plant will increase annual electricity production by approximately 110GWh.

The project includes the excavation of a 20km tunnel, where the quiet and emission-free operation of electric vehicles is considered beneficial, especially in enclosed or sensitive settings.

Four electric haulers, the first of their kind produced on a serial basis in this size class, were supplied to the site, with three additional units expected next month.

The battery-electric articulated haulers are intended to provide zero-emission performance in demanding environments.

The equipment travelled over 700km from the manufacturing facility in Braås, Sweden, to the Hallingdal project site.

LNS project site manager Steffen Solstrand Ludvigsen said: “The project is a strong fit for this type of machine. We’ll be working in tunnels with blasting cycles, which allow time for charging between runs. That makes electric haulers particularly well suited to the work here.”

Hemsil 3 is being developed as a parallel facility to the existing Hemsil 2 power plant, utilising shared infrastructure and water resources.

Power output from the combined plant is projected to rise from roughly 590GWh to 700GWh annually.

Earlier this month, Volvo CE started building a new excavator manufacturing facility in Eskilstuna, Sweden.