Hydropower development in the energy transition

The document examines how hydropower in Sweden is shifting from a baseload power source to a flexibility provider to balance intermittent renewables like wind and solar. This transition, coupled with industrial expansion in northern Sweden, increases the risk of ecological damage through hydropeaking and river regulation. The authors argue for a comprehensive, evidence-based planning approach that balances energy demands with biodiversity and community needs.

• Hydropower in Sweden is transitioning from providing baseload electricity to serving as a flexibility source to balance intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power.
• Industrial expansion in northern Sweden, including projects by HYBRIT, H2 Green Steel, SSAB, LKAB, and Northvolt, is driving a massive increase in energy demand, with approximately 80 TWh/year needed by 2028 for industrial use alone.
• River regulation in Sweden has significantly altered natural flow patterns, reducing spring peak flows by 15% and increasing winter flows, which has led to biodiversity loss and the decline of fish species like Atlantic salmon, brown trout, and grayling.
• The increase in wind energy penetration is expected to escalate 'hydropeaking'—the sudden release of water to meet peak demand—which damages aquatic organisms, destroys fish habitats, and disturbs thermal regimes.
• The National Plan of Hydropower Permit Review (NAP) aims to coordinate efficiency upgrades and river restoration over 20 years, but increasing the production capacity of large stations may inadvertently increase the scale of river flow changes and ecological damage.
• A one-year pause in the permit review process, triggered by the energy price crisis, has created conflict between energy companies and environmental organizations, with the latter warning of fish extinction and potential EU fines for failing to comply with the Water Directive.

APA

Xylia, M., Bin Ashraf, F., & Barquet, K. (2023). Hydropower development in the energy transition. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/hydropower-energy-transition-northern-sweden-sei2023.048-updated.pdf

Chicago

Xylia, Maria, Faisal Bin Ashraf, and Karina Barquet. Hydropower development in the energy transition. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2023. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/hydropower-energy-transition-northern-sweden-sei2023.048-updated.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Xylia |first1=Maria |last2=Bin Ashraf |first2=Faisal |last3=Barquet |first3=Karina |title=Hydropower development in the energy transition |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=September 2023 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/hydropower-energy-transition-northern-sweden-sei2023.048-updated.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{xylia2023hydropower, author = {Xylia, Maria and Bin Ashraf, Faisal and Barquet, Karina}, title = {{Hydropower development in the energy transition}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2023}, month = sep, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/hydropower-energy-transition-northern-sweden-sei2023.048-updated.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }