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World Potential (SWEDEN)
Hydrology and Topography
The highest precipitation is in the mountain regions where
it can reach the figure of 2,500 mm per year in some places.
Precipitation is also quite high in the southwestern part
of the country - somewhat more than 1,000 mm. per year. The
interior of Northern Sweden and the lowland areas in the middle
and in the South are quite dry and have less than 400 mm precipitation
per year. Evaporation is greatest in the south of the country,
roughly 400 mm per year, and decreases northwards and as the
altitude becomes higher. In the mountain areas it is only
100-200 mm per year.
The farther northwards one goes and the higher the altitude
is, the greater part of the precipitation fails as snow. From
the point of view of hydropower, it is of course an advantage
that the precipitation is high and the evaporation is low
in the mountain areas and in the highlands. On the other hand
it is a disadvantage that the precipitation in these areas
remains on the ground in the form of snow and ice for a lengthy
period of the year and then flows away in a short time and
with a high intensity during the spring.
The natural runoff differs greatly from river to river. The
farther North, the smaller is the runoff during the winter
and the more intense the spring flood. In the river G6ta jIv
the natural runoff is practically constant over the year partly
due to the equalizing effect of the large lake Vinern. In
the river Helge A in the south the runoff is greatest during
the winter period. Sweden has reliable statistics of the flow
in the main rivers and some records go back to 1807. A solid
basis is thus available for the estimation of hydro power
potential.
The differences in altitudes are not very great in Sweden.
In the northern part the rivers descend slowly from the mountain
range in the west to the Gulf of Bothnia and the Bothnian
Sea. In the mountain area the landscape slopes steeply. Before
the mountain streams have been united into small rivers the
ground has descended to an altitude of 600-800 m. On their
way to the sea the rivers here and there form long narrow
lakes.
Country Brief
History of Hydropower
Installed Capacity
Electricity Supply
Network
Planning, Operation,
and Power Exchange
The Deregulated
Electricity Market
Hydrology and Topography
Background of Hydro
Development
Hydropower Developed
Until 1995
Available Hydropower
Potential
The Possibilities
of Further Development
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