
Sustainable hydropower
Swedish center for sustainable hydropower
Luleå University of Technology has been trusted to host the largest of the Swedish Energy Agency's competence centers, the Swedish Center for Sustainable Hydropower.
Together with industry, the public sector and six other universities, Luleå University of Technology will conduct research to ensure that sustainable, safe and optimized hydropower acts as the most important enabler in Sweden's transition to a sustainable energy system. At the same time, the center will work to protect biodiversity in our regulated rivers.
About Swedish center for sustainable hydropower
Since the beginning of industrialization, hydropower has provided Swedish society and industry with a unique combination of secure production of renewable electricity at a low cost and with low emissions, and will continue to be the backbone of Sweden's electricity production.
From being a producer of stable electricity, hydropower has taken on the role of regulating resource and enabler of a fossil-free society with an increasing amount of unregulated power mainly from wind and solar. This role will become increasingly important in the future.
While hydropower is an important renewable resource, it has environmental impacts on river biodiversity. This has implications for society, in particular for people whose daily lives, activities or recreation depend on the regulated waterways. Safe dams and hydraulic structures are prerequisites for hydropower. Dams enable the regulation of watercourses and the storage of very large amounts of energy (electricity), but they also pose risks. Around 400 of Sweden's hydropower dams can have significant social consequences if they fail. It is therefore of utmost importance to conduct research for a more efficient, flexible, safe and environmentally friendly hydropower.
The center officially started in July 2022 and important activities have been to jointly form projects and to initiate international collaborations. An example of the latter is the planned signing of a memorandum of understanding with a similar center in Norway. Discussions have also begun on interdisciplinary projects in areas such as large-scale pumping power, hidden hydropower and climate change impacts.
Our vision
Sustainable, safe and optimized hydropower operates as the most important enabler in Sweden’s transition to a sustainable energy system, while working to safeguard riverine biodiversity. Interdisciplinary research and innovative solutions, in close cooperation with the industry and public sector, strengthen our position among the international leaders in research on hydropower and river systems.
Participants
Together with the following participants in industry, the public sector and six other universities, Luleå University of Technology conducts research for sustainable, safe and optimized hydropower.
Academy
- Luleå University of Technology
- KTH
- Uppsala University
- Karlstad University
- Umeå University
- Lund University
- Chalmers
Industry
23 companies (97% of hydropower industry, mining companies, consultants, manufacturers) via energiforsk. Companies linked to SVC:
- Vattenfall Vattenkraft AB (incl VIAB)
- Fortum Sverige AB
- Sydkraft Hydropower AB
- Statkraft Sverige AB
- Skellefteå Kraft AB
- Holmen Energi AB
- Jämtkraft AB
- Vattenfall vattenkraft AB (Umeå municipality)
- Tekniska verken i Linköping AB
- Mälarenergi
- Karlstad Energi
- Jönköping Energi AB
- Sweco Sverige AB
- AFRY
- WSP Sverige AB
- Norconsult AB
- Hydropower Environmental Fund
- Boliden Mining AB
- LKAB
- Zinkgruvan Mining AB
- Andritz Hydro Sverige filial
- Voith Hydro AB
- Rainpower Kristinehamn AB
Public authorities
- Svenska kraftnät
- Swedish Agency for Marine & Water Management (Havs- och vattenmyndigheten)
- Swedish Energy Agency (Energimyndigheten)
Program manager Energiforsk
Area Manager Hydropower
08-677 27 53 | 070-248 79 77
emma.hagner@energiforsk.se
Contact
Staffan Lundström
- Professor and Head of Subject
- 0920-492392
- staffan.lundstrom@ltu.se
- Staffan Lundström
Updated: