Instefjord, Norway
HydropowerPressure Shaft
Kvernhus Hydropower
Full-length lining with pipes with a diameter of 0.71 m.
Read MoreWorld-Class Directional Drilling
Water Infrastructure with Surgical Precision
Norhard delivers directional land drilling for hydropower and critical infrastructure
— fully electric, remotely operated and engineered with extreme precision.
High Precision
Controlled drilling along predefined curves with surgical accuracy.
Cost Efficient
Reduces time and complexity in difficult terrain.
Environmentally Friendly
95% reduction in environmental impact and mass deposits.
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Tunnels Completed
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Meters Drilled
0.00 TWh
Energy Enabled
What We Do
One Method. Multiple Applications.
Our directional drilling technology adapts to diverse infrastructure challenges across Norway and Europe.
Hydropower
Drilling pressure shafts with minimal impact on nature.
Infrastructure
Trenchless solutions for water, district heating and energy.
Challenging Terrain
Solutions where traditional blasting is impractical or costly.
The Difference
Traditional Drill and Blast (D&B) vs Norhard
See how directional drilling revolutionizes tunnel construction with minimal environmental footprint.
Feature
Traditional Drill and Blast (D&B)
Norhard
Environmental Impact
Extensive terrain disruption
95% reduction in surface impact
Access Roads
Requires extensive road construction
Minimal or no access roads needed
Mass Deposits
Large volumes of excavated material
95% reduction in mass deposits
CO2 Emissions
High emissions from blasting & transport
260,000 kg CO2 reduction per km
Operation
Manual, on-site drilling crews
Remote-controlled, fully electric
Precision
Variable accuracy
< 1m deviation per 1000m
See the difference
Click images to view larger versions
Say no to costly excavations, blasting, transport roads and massive spoil deposits that leave permanent scars on nature for thousands of years.
Say yes to 95% reduction in surface impact and mass deposits. Save money and nature.
Get in Touch
Are you ready to discuss your next project?
Let's Explore Opportunities Together!
Technology
How Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) Works
The Challenge
Traditional small hydropower waterway systems consist of an intake structure, a tunnel or horizontal pipeline, and a penstock or pressure shaft leading to the power station. Historically, pressure shafts have often been constructed above ground or in excavated trenches due to lower development costs. However, challenging topography — such as steep slopes with exposed rock or landslide risk — combined with increasingly strict environmental regulations restricting above-ground construction, has created a clear need for alternative solutions.
The Solution
Norhard's Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) solution is a breakthrough full-profile directional drilling technology that significantly reduces both environmental impact and development costs in the construction of hydropower pressure shafts, enabling the expansion of renewable energy production. Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is powered by a state-of-the-art electric drill motor directly mounted on the drill bit, combined with a non-rotating drill string. By drilling the full tunnel profile in a single operation, we achieve up to a 95% reduction in environmental impact compared to traditional construction methods.
How It Works
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is powered by a state-of-the-art electric drill motor directly mounted on the drill bit, combined with a non-rotating drill string. This configuration minimizes friction between the drill string and the rock, significantly reducing total system energy consumption to just 60 kW.
By drilling the full tunnel profile in a single operation, we achieve up to a 95% reduction in environmental impact compared to traditional construction methods.
The non-rotating drill string enables:
- Insertion of drill string modules without interrupting the drilling process
- Integration of electrical cables to power the drilling motor
- Inclusion of high-capacity fibre optic cables for communication systems
- Down-to-up drilling along predefined curves over long distances
- Elimination of the need for temporary access roads to mountain areas
Deviation
< 1m per km
High precision drilling
Elevation
0–1000m
Vertical rise capability
Diameter
0.38–1.5m
Flexible tunnel sizes
Distance
Up to 3km
Maximum drilling length
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)
Key Advantages
Minimal Environmental Impact
No need for extensive access roads in mountainous terrain
Fully Electric Operation
Near-silent and emission-free drilling with only 60 kW consumption
Precision Navigation
Controlled drilling along predefined curves with integrated navigation
Cost Efficient
Reduces time and complexity in difficult terrain
Remote-Controlled
Improved safety and operational control
Proven Capacity
Up to 3 km drilling length and 1,000 m elevation difference
Applications Beyond Hydropower
This technology enables the development of projects in locations previously considered unfeasible due to cost, technical, or environmental constraints. In doing so, it creates opportunities across the broader infrastructure sector—including water supply and drainage, district heating, and high-voltage networks. As such, it paves the way for environmentally friendly, trenchless urban development.
Water supply and drainage systemsDistrict heating networksHigh-voltage infrastructure corridors
Our Work
Featured Projects
Explore our portfolio of precision drilling projects across Norway and Europe.
Cavaglio, Italy
HydropowerInternational
Cavaglio Hydropower
A double first for Norhard: first international project and our first tunnel exceeding 1.6 km.
Read More
Tonstad, Norway
District HeatingInfrastructure
Erstmyr District Heating
Full-length lining with district heating pipes with a diameter of 0.56 m.
Read MoreLatest Updates
News & Insights
Stay updated with the latest developments from Norhard.
May 2026
World Record: Norhard Reaches 2.6 Kilometres Using an Unmanned Horizontal Drilling Rig
A major milestone has been reached in drilling history. For the first time ever, Norhard has drilled a borehole exceeding 2.6 kilometres using an unmanned horizontal drilling rig. No one has previously achieved this with an unmanned horizontal drilling rig.
Read Article
March 2026
Norhard Completes Aa-Tverrelva Hydropower Drilling Project
Norhard has successfully completed the drilling project for the Aa-Tverrelva hydropower plant in Western Norway. The project has been marked by major geological challenges and demanding tunnel drilling conditions.
Read Article
April 2025
Norhard Achieves Eco-Lighthouse Certification
Norhard AS has officially received its Eco-Lighthouse certification, marking an important milestone in the company's environmental and sustainability efforts.
Read ArticleAbout Norhard
Engineering Excellence from Norway
Norhard was established in 2006 and is a pioneering Norwegian drilling company at the forefront of directional drilling technology. Based in Tonstad — often referred to as Norway's hydropower capital, approximately 110 kilometres southeast of Stavanger — we specialize in precision infrastructure solutions for hydropower projects, water tunnels, and pressure shafts.
Our innovative Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) technology represents a major shift in tunnel construction. This is the only solution capable of drilling upwards over long distances and extreme elevation differences — up to 3 kilometres in bore length with a vertical rise of 1 kilometre — using a non-rotating drill string. In 2018, Norhard was awarded NOK 19 million in EU funding through the Horizon 2020 SME programme to support the development and international commercialization of our Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) technology. Today, Norhard operates as a fully integrated provider of drilling and casing solutions onshore, supported by in-house technology development and manufacturing.
Norhard is proud to be a certified Eco-Lighthouse company. This certification reflects our long-term commitment to environmental responsibility, workplace standards, and social accountability. It commits us to continuously reducing our environmental footprint and contributing to a more sustainable future for coming generations. At Norhard, ensuring that our operations do not create actual or potential negative impacts on nature, climate, fundamental human rights, or decent working conditions is a guiding principle in everything we do.
2006
Established
Tonstad
Headquartered
Europe
Service Coverage
46,000
Meters Drilled
Get In Touch
Let's Explore Opportunities Together
Ready to discuss your next project? Contact our team for a consultation.
Send Us a Message
Key Personnel
Department Contacts
Workshop & Transport
Kjetil Haugen
Manager Workshop, Warehouse & Transport
kha@norhard.no+47 412 08 511Contact Information
Phone
+47 909 20 680Address
Finsaveien 9
4440 Tonstad, Norway
ORG
Org. Number
926 060 597 MVA
Policies & Documents
Governance & Compliance
Access company policies, certifications, and governance documents related to sustainability, security, quality assurance, and workplace standards.
Sustainability
Work Environment
Climate & Environment
Quality Management
Security
Whistleblowing
We encourage both internal and external stakeholders to report any misconduct or matters of concern. Norhard has established procedures to protect whistleblowers and ensure proper handling of cases related to, for example:
- Breaches of internal guidelines, laws, regulations, or policies
- Gross mismanagement or unethical conduct
- Abuse of authority
- Significant and specific risks to health, environment, or safety
Such information shall be reported to management or an independent third party and will subsequently be investigated. Whistleblowers will be treated confidentially, safeguarded, and protected against retaliation.
Report concerns:post@norhard.no