Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1951-02-23
Sweden
EXPANSION OF SWEDISH
POWER PRODUCTION
Output More Than Doubled
Since 1910

ergy in Sweden has been expanded
rapidly during the last twenty-five
years, and especially during the
last decade. In 1850, 1890 million
kilowatt hours were produced, as
compared with 16,140 millions in
1949, $500 millions in 1910, and
300 millions in 1925. The harness
sing of water power is closely as
ISOLATED with the country's indus
trial growth, and today it. is being
carried still further to meet the
ever-increasing demand for cleo
trio power. In two years produc-
ton is expected to reach 21,00O
million XVIII. Water power re-
sources which are economically
available are estimated at total
of 10000 million XVIII, and it
seems likely that they will have
been exploited to the full in about
twenty years.
Since Sweden lacks coal and oil
it is only natural that the coun-
try should turn to it's rivers and
lakes for it's energy needs, and
thus it has become, in proportion
to population, one of the worlds
leading producers of hydroelectric
power. Per capital, the Swedish
production of electricity is ap-
proximately the same as that of
the United States, but while only
about 80 per cent of the American
output is based on water power,
Sweden covers 96-97 per cent of
her requirements by hydro-electric
developments. Except for the is
land of Gotland, which lacks wat
er power resources and so far has
been supplied entirely by steam
power stations, and some industri-
al steam power generation, steam
power plants have been built MAIN
ly to meet emergencies. The i'm
portance of Sweden being able to
satisfy her own energy needs to
the greatest possible extent be-
came especially evident during
the Second World War, when coal
imports were drastically reduced
and shipments from England were
completely cut off. Thanks to her
white COAL" Sweden was able to
keep her industries operating at
full capacity and her railways
running.
Longest Overhead Power Line In
World and First for $4,000 Volts
From one point of view, the
Swedish power situation is some
what paradoxical. Most of the
waterfalls are locat ted in the
northern part of the country with
it's very sparse population, while
the heaviest consumption takes
place in the south. To bridge this
gap six 100000 volt lines have
been constructed, extending from
Porjus in the far north. From
Porjus there are also lines going
out to Norwegian power stations
at Narvik, and in the south the
Swedish system is connected by
submarine cables with Danish pow
er plants.
The constantly growing demand
for power, however, has given rise
to need for transmission sys-
tenn with a higher capacity than
the 100000 volt lines. The State
Power Board, which is building
several large power stations in the
North, in 1947 began construction
of a line for alternating current
at 100000 volts, the highest work.
ing voltage in the world. 1t will
be completed in March this year
and covers a distance of 600 miles,
from Harspranget on the Lule
River, % miles north of the Arc
tic Circle, to Hallsberg in central
Sweden. 1t is the longest over
head power line in the world. At
Hallsberg. the power will be
stepped down to 100000 volts and
fed into the distribution network
lemanating from this station. A
second line, extending over about
300 miles, is planned for compile
ton in 1858, and the construction
of a third line, from Hallsberg
down to the countrys southern
most province has inst heep do