WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

4.2.9 Sweden
European Small Hydropower Association, Stream Map
Key facts
Population 9,103,788
Area 450,295 km 2
Climate Temperate in south, with cold, cloudy
winters and cool, partly cloudy summers;
subarctic in north
Topography Mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands;
mountains in west
Rain
pattern
Precipitation all year, however the
rainiest are summer and autumn. In the
mountains 1,500 mm to 2,000 mm per
year. In the South-west most wet areas
have 1,000 mm to 1,200 mm per year.
Compared to the measured annual
rainfall in general at 500-800mm. Least
precipitation on the small islands along
the Baltic Sea, and in confined valleys in
the mountain regions with around 400
mm per year 2
Electricity sector overview
Swedish carbon emissions are low compared to other
countries, because more than 85 per cent of its
electricity comes from wind, nuclear and hydropower
(figure 1).
Cold condensing pow er
Import
Wind
Industrial back pressure pow er
Combined heat & pow er
Nuclear
Hydropow er
0.27%
1.36%
2.38%
4.29%
8.72%
37.88%
45.10%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Figure 1 Electricity generation in Sweden
Source: Swedish Energy Agency 3
Since 1 January 2012, Sweden and Norway have a
common electricity certificate market. Over the period
until 2020, the two countries aim to increase their
production of electricity from renewable energy sources
by 26.4 TWh. The joint market will permit trading in
both Swedish and Norwegian certificates, and receiving
certificates for renewable electricity production in either
country.
Small hydropower sector overview and potential
In 2010, Sweden had 1,901 small hydropower plants and
a total installed capacity of 1,194 MW, generating 4,571
GWh per year (figure 2).
SHP installed
capacity
SHP potential
1194 MW
1230 MW
0 500 1000 1500
Figure 2 Small hydropower capacities in Sweden
Many older small hydropower plants are now phased
out of the Swedish support scheme or are undergoing
large refurbishment. To be entitled to operate for the
next 15 years, it is required that the plants must
undergo total refurbishment of all essential parts. As
refurbishment is very expensive and not economically
viable for smaller small hydropower plants
(approximately less than 100 kW), they are facing an
uncertain future.
New small hydropower development targets are few. By
2020, the aim is to have 1,960 plants with a total
installed capacity of 1,230 MW (generating 5,500 GWh).
From 2007 onwards, not many new plants have been
built but refurbishment is being made, including
upgrading larger small hydropower plants. For smaller
small hydropower plants with higher cost per produced
kWh, the outcome for investment is more unsecured.
Renewable energy policy
Sweden surpassed its 2020 renewable energy targets in
2009, achieving 50.2 per cent of final energy from
renewable energy. 4 A market-based support system for
renewable electricity production has been in place in
the form of electricity certificates since 2003. The
objective of the Swedish electricity certificate system is
to increase the production of renewable electricity by
25,000 GWh by year 2020.
Legislation on small hydropower
Renewable and hydropower producers are entitled to
certificates from the electricity certificate system under
the following conditions:
At the end of April 2003, small-scale hydropower
plants that had a maximum installed capacity of
1,500 kW per production unit (the majority of the
small hydropower in this group will be taken out of
the system in 2012 if not refurbished to a standard
similar to a new plant and have received the Energy
Agency’s acceptance).
New plants.
Resumed operation from plants that had been
closed.
Increased production capacity from existing plants.
Plants that can no longer operate in an
economically viable manner due to decisions by the
authorities, or to extensive rebuilding.
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