VOLVO Construction Equipment recently revealed that it has delivered the world’s first A30 Electric articulated haulers to LNS (Leonhard Nilsen & Sønner AS) for use on a Hafslund hydropower project.
The manufacturer explained that the deployment at a Norwegian hydroelectric power plant highlights how zero-emission solutions can support more sustainable infrastructure and energy production.
The A30 Electric is part of Volvo CE’s portfolio of battery-electric machines and is described as the world’s first serial produced electric articulated hauler in its size class. A total of four A30 Electric haulers have been delivered, with a further three to follow. The machines will be used by LNS on behalf of Hafslund Kraft AS for the construction of the Hemsil 3 power plant in the Hallingdal region, spanning the Hemsedal and Gol municipalities.
The project, expected to be completed in 2029, aims to increase annual energy production by around 110 GWh. To help reduce project-related emissions, electric equipment will play a key role in construction.
Lars Oust, project manager at Hafslund Kraft, said, “Hafslund has a strong environmental focus and takes a forward-leaning approach to electrifying construction operations on our projects. To succeed in the green transition, we need to adopt new technology and take the lead as a client, driving demand for this type of equipment. That’s why being the first in the world to use electric haulers is so important to us.”
The machines will be used in the construction of an approximately 20km tunnel, where their zero-emission operation makes them suited for enclosed and sensitive working environments.
Steffen Solstrand Ludvigsen, project site manager at LNS, added, “We are proud to have secured the first A30 Electric haulers for LNS and the Hemsil 3 project, and we look forward to putting them to work. 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.”
