THE EDIT
Your monthly briefing on the journey to fossil freedom
Issue #32, Rethinking hydropower, April 2026
Photo: Vattenfall & Johan Strindberg
Reshaping hydropower for the next chapter
What to know: How do we adapt hydropower to a changing energy landscape? At a research facility in central Sweden, large-scale models send water rushing through miniature power stations, allowing engineers to study how turbines, generators and materials behave under real-world conditions.
Why it matters: Hydropower provides around 15 per cent of electricity generation globally, and more than 40 per cent in Sweden. As weather patterns become more variable, hydropower plants need to start and stop more often to help balance supply and demand. At Älvkarleby, Vattenfall’s researchers are studying everything from alternative concrete binders for reducing construction's carbon footprint, to the wear on generators caused by frequent cycling.
Photo: Vattenfall
Modern hydro means more power from the same water
By investing in new turbines, transformers and control systems, hydropower plants built decades ago can generate more electricity and respond faster to supply and demand fluctuations. Hundreds of megawatts have already been added at existing plants – and there is room for hundreds more. At the same time, measures to reduce the impact on nature and biodiversity are being introduced along regulated rivers, including floating islands and nesting sites for birds.
Powering up hydropower
Vattenfall’s hydropower capacity has increased by nearly 800 MW over the past ten years. Plans are now in place to expand capacity by a further 650 MW, which would result in a total increase of more than 1,400 MW. This will be achieved solely within existing facilities through the upgrading of turbines, generators and transformers. Read more in Vattenfall’s Annual and Sustainability Report.
Photo: Vattenfall
How algorithms supercharge pumped storage hydropower
Vattenfall's German pumped storage hydropower plants once followed a simple rhythm: pumping water at night when electricity prices were low and generating power during the day. Today, with a lot of wind and solar in the energy system, pumped storage hydropower gets an even more important role – as a balancer. Now, algorithms analyse prices, weather and reservoir levels every few minutes, allowing plants to continuously adjust output. The result is faster decisions, more precise operation and greater flexibility for the electricity system.
The snow data behind northern Sweden's spring flood
Photo: Vattenfall
In northern Sweden, the spring flood begins with fieldwork long before the snow starts to melt. Each year, Vattenfall hydrologists manually measure snow depth and density, integrate the results with helicopter radar surveys and use data from mountain weather stations to estimate how much water is stored in the snowpack. The result is a clearer picture of the flows expected in the Lule River system – and an important basis for planning reservoir regulation, risk management and hydropower production in the weeks ahead.
News flash
3 x quick updates from the energy world
Photo: Adobe Stock
African potential
Hydropower has been an underused energy source on the continent of Africa, with only eleven per cent of the 600 GW potential having so far been used. Now that’s about to change. (energycapitalpower.com)
Photo: Adobe Stock
Secret life of plants
Small nuclear reactors have received much attention, but what about small hydropower plants (<30 megawatt)? In Brazil, they’re already a part of the system. Forecasts say one gigawatt could be installed over the next five years. (bnamericas.com)
Photo: Adobe Stock
Summer power
When does hydropower produce the most? Statistics from EMBER shows that global production is at its highest from early spring to late autumn, peaking in June and July. (ember-energy.org)
And finally …
Will hydropower hit the shelves bit by bit?
LEGO, a favourite pastime activity for children around the world, has an “Ideas” platform where the public can submit a project suggestions. Suggestions that receive 10,000 public votes are considered for commercial production. Water Poer Magazine now writes that Hydroelec, a French hydropower company, has submitted Discovering the World of Hydroelectricity – a 4,996-piece model of a hydropower plant – to the platform. Will it make it onto the shelves of your local toy shop?