Statkraft AS is a hydropower company, fully owned by the Norwegian state. The Statkraft Group is Europe's largest generator of renewable energy, as well as Norway's largest and the Nordic region's third largest energy producer. Statkraft develops and generates hydropower, wind power, gas power, district heating and solar power. It is also a player in the international energy markets. The company has 7,000 employees in over 20 countries with their headquarters located in Oslo, Norway.
History
The Norwegian state acquired its first ownership rights to a waterfall when they bought Paulenfossen in Southern Norway in 1895.[1]
In 1921, the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) was created to operate the nation's power plants. From 1950 to 1960, the state constructed large hydropower plants across the country.
In 1986, the power plants and central power grid were split off as Statskraftverkene, which was divided again in 1992 into Statkraft and Statnett. Statkraft SF was created as a government enterprise.
Through the 1990s and 2000s, Statkraft acquired a number of power plants in Norway in addition to expanding internationally. In 2004, Statkraft was reorganized as a