Laforsen is a 57 MW hydro power plant in Gaevleborg, Sweden. It is operated by Fortum. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 57k homes (estimated). It ranks #80 of 178 Sweden power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1953, it is around 73 years old — an older, legacy facility. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 40.0% of Sweden's electricity; the national grid averages 35 gCO₂/kWh (98.8% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1019337.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100001023253; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 57 MW, Laforsen is well above the median hydro plant in Sweden (35 MW). Technically it is described as conventional storage. Hydropower converts the energy of falling or flowing water into electricity; output depends on rainfall and reservoir level, and large dams also provide grid balancing and storage.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Sweden hydro capacity
- 0.4% of 12,709 MW across 142 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 38 of 136 dated hydro plants in Sweden are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest hydro plants in Sweden
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Fortum. All plants by this company →
Climate zone & how it works
This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a subarctic (boreal) climate (Köppen Dfc) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 61.9°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Climate zone & typical temperatures: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid).
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #55 largest hydro power plant of 142 in Sweden by capacity.
Sweden has 142 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 12,709 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Krokströmmen · Hydro · 103 MW · Jaemtland
- Noppikoski · Hydro · 10 MW · Dalarna
- Sveg · Hydro · 36 MW · Jaemtland
- Parteboda · Hydro · 35 MW · Vaesternorrland
- Hermansboda · Hydro · 12 MW · Vaesternorrland
- Alfta (Malvik) · Hydro · 32 MW · Gaevleborg
Location
Coordinates 61.9435, 15.4977 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Laforsen?
Laforsen is a 57 MW hydro power plant in Gaevleborg, Sweden, commissioned in 1953.
Who operates Laforsen?
Laforsen is operated by Fortum.