Ensuring safe fish passage: guiding fish using pumps
At large hydropower plants, guiding fish is highly complex and conventional intake racks are often expensive and not a feasible solution.
Short facts
- Edsforsen, Sweden
- Salmon
- Divert fish from swimming into the turbines
- 2024-2026
As part of our work with R&D, we are therefore continuously evaluating how new technology can help to guide fish away from high-mortality passages and towards safer routes.
We have tested different solutions, one example being large pumps that can be used to create a jet flow that guides fish in the right direction.
In late 2024, a large pump (9 m3/s) was tested at Edsforsen hydropower plant. The tests were concluded in early 2025 and the guiding efficiency is being evaluated by the Swedish University of Agricultural Science.
More about biodiversity
Biodiversity and nature protection are a priority at Vattenfall. It is one of the focus areas in our environmental policy and therefore also a central part in our environmental work.
How we make a difference for nature
Biodiversity is an important and integrated part of our work. Here, we show concrete examples of how we care for nature through our projects.
See also
Biotope restoration and species protection
Biotope restoration and species protection play a vital role in adapting hydropower to the environment.
Conservation of lesser white-fronted goose in Sweden
The lesser white-fronted goose has declined since the 1940s, making it one of Sweden’s most threatened birds.
Nature conservation efforts at Windplanblauw: artificial reefs and resting areas
Windplanblauw is a wind energy project located in the province of Flevoland in central Netherlands.