Vittjärv
Facts
Water information
Built on soil
Another difference between Vittjärv Power Station and Vattenfall’s other facilities is the fact that it does not rest on bedrock. At the location where the station was to be erected, the bedrock was too deep below ground level, making it unpractical to bulldoze all the way down. Instead, the solution was to build a concrete disc that the building could rest on.
Large construction
Although the capacity of the plant is limited, the building boasts a significant volume, towering 45 metres above ground. This is due to the fact that it has to be able to swallow 2,000 m3 of water per second. Being built above ground level, it does not have the traditional design with an excavated vertical tunnel utilising the head (drop) to lead the water to the turbine. Instead, the turbine is placed in a tube in the stream utilising the small head of 6 metres and the speed of the water stream to generate electricity. The facility is fitted with seven spillways.
Characteristics of the Lule Älv River
Hydro power is a reliable, safe and renewable source of energy. Today, hydro power accounts for nearly half of Sweden’s total electricity demand. The Lule Älv River, by which Vittjärv is located, is Vattenfall’s and Sweden’s most important river for hydro power generation.