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World Potential (SWEDEN)
Background of Hydro Development
The country as a whole is a land of lakes and rivers with
vast forests in between. However there are large regions of
plains in the south of Sweden where agriculture developed
in rather large areas in prehistoric times.
As settlers moved inland and ever further to the North, they
followed the water courses. There they found tillable soil
and the water, liquid or frozen, became their aid for transport
and communication. They also obtained fish for food, bog-ore
for tools and reeds for winter fodder for the cattle. Smaller
tributaries afforded mechanical power for grinding and sawing.
Against such a background the early mediaeval provincial laws
laid down that use of water was based on private right.
In most countries the waterways belong by law to the Government
or local authorities. In Sweden they are owned by the owners
of the river banks, which sometimes is the Government. This
is also the reason why several power companies have power
stations along one and the same river.
According to the water law, special river regulation enterprises
have to be established in rivers where more than two owners
take advantage of a regulation. These enterprises are responsible
for the proper handling of the reservoirs and the water management
and also for compensation for damage judged in the Water Rights
Court. The costs are shared between the owners of the hydro
stations in proportion to the advantage of the river regulation.
The river regulation enterprises are independent corporate
bodies.
Swedish rivers are not really suitable for ship canals and
only a few canals have been built, e.g. TrolhAtte Canal on
the river Gota Alv from lake Vanern to Gothenburg. The main
rivers in northern and middle Sweden have been used for centuries
to transport the timber and the pulp wood by floating logs
from the forests in the hinterland to the industries mainly
located along the coast. The hydro stations had to be designed
and constructed in such a way that this transport could continue
without serious disturbance and without damage to the logs
when passing the structures. Nowadays, however, log transportation
is effected by lorries and log floating is not practised in
any river.
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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