Forsmo

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

The first unit was commissioned in 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 first units were operated at their maximum capacity, which resulted in regular periods of repair work. When three additional units were commissioned in 1958, it became possible to run the turbines at a more normal capacity.