Forsmo

Forsmo

The supply of electricity was under pressure in Sweden during the 1940s. More hydro power was needed to meet the electricity demand. Vattenfall therefore started to plan the development of the Ångermanälven River. In 1945, Vattenfall was permitted to start construction of a hydro power station at the Forsmoforsen rapids.

History

By creating a dam to regulate Forsmoforsen, a head (drop) of 34 metres was created, enabling Kaplan turbines to capture the energy of the water. The immediate need for electricity resulted in several compromises. The first unit was commissioned in record time on 16 February 1948, but the fast pace came at a price: there were several temporary arrangements, i.e., no floors in the machine hall and no gates to the halls where the transformers were situated. In the first two years the power plant also had to be run with a temporary control panel and with temporary manual control of the turbine blades instead of a servo motor.

The initial units were operated at their maximum capacity, which resulted in regular periods of repair work. When the remaining units came into operation in 1958, it became possible to run the turbines at a more normal capacity.

Fish breeding

One of Vattenfall’s fish-breeding facilities is in the vicinity of Forsmo Power Station. As a result of the development of hydro power in the Ångermanälven River, Vattenfall is helping the fish population by annually breeding and releasing fish into the river. The Forsmo breeding facility aims to release roughly 94,000 salmon smolt, 16,000 trout and 300,000 whitefish spawn every year. Vattenfall’s fish-breeding activities currently have a combined annual turnover of SEK 35 million.