Hydropower in Sweden and Finland
Environmental report for hydropower 2022Hydropower – renewable and clean energy
Hydropower is the most important form of renewable energy in the Nordic countries. It is a steady source of power that produces no CO2 emissions. And with only water as an input, the low operating costs of hydropower stabilise the price of electricity for everyone.
CO2 free
Hydropower helps fight climate change because it doesn’t produce harmful emissions.
Flexible
Changes in demand can be met by increasing water flow to generate more electricity.
Renewable
Water behind a dam is a renewable energy source that does not need to be purchased.
Reducing our footprint
A clean-energy future means generating electricity without producing CO2 emissions. For us, hydropower provides much-needed electricity while also playing an important role in minimising our carbon footprint and helping mitigate climate change.
Extra energy
More production capacity is needed during times of peak power demand. While coal-fired electricity could be used to fill the gap, hydropower and water flow management offer enough flexibility to meet changes in demand without increasing CO2 output.
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FAQ - Hydropower
What is hydroelectric power?
A CO2-free power generation method that uses the energy created by water flowing through a dammed waterway to create electricity.
How does hydroelectric power work?
Hydropower plants utilise the difference in height between the dammed water and the outflow area to generate water flow energy which rotates a turbine that drives an electric generator. The same water can then be utilised again in the next plant downstream.
Where can hydropower be found?
Fortum owns/operates about 124 hydroelectric power stations in the Nordic region.
Is hydropower safe?
Yes, our hydroelectric power plants are built to withstand a flood that statistically occurs every 700 to 5000 years and we invest millions of Euros in dam safety every year.