Fortum Builds Fish Passage at Spjutmo Hydropower Plant

Fortum Oyj is currently carrying out extensive renovation and expansion work at the Spjutmo hydropower plant in Mora municipality, Sweden. As part of this project, a new fish passage is being constructed to allow migratory fish species, such as brown trout and grayling, to pass the plant during their spawning seasons.

The initiative aims to ensure the facility's continued operation and supply of fossil-free electricity for many years to come. In addition to the fish passage, the plant's turbine and generator are also being replaced. This work is part of Fortum's broader efforts to promote biodiversity in aquatic environments affected by hydropower.

The new fish passage, expected to be completed in 2023, will consist of a concrete channel approximately 560 meters long. Special screens, known as alpha screens, will be installed in front of the turbine intakes to guide fish safely past the turbines and downstream. This technology represents a new implementation in Sweden, based on studies of fish migration patterns.

The Spjutmo plant renovation is part of a larger investment along the Dalälven river to facilitate fish migration. Fortum describes these fish passage investments as the largest in Swedish history. The Spjutmo plant has a capacity of 35 MW and an average annual production of 138 GWh.