The history and heritage of Vattenfall

1909

The birth of Vattenfall

Vattenfall is said to have been the world's first state-owned power producer. The journey to reach that point was lined with social debates and legal processes, and a large dose of entrepreneurship.

Vilhelm Hansen. Director general of Vattenfall 1909-1928.

1910–1915

The pioneer power stations

Olidan station is put into operation, followed by power stations at Porjus and Älvkarleby during Vattenfall's pioneer period.

1914–1918

The First World War

Coal gets very expensive and is difficult to import, the main energy source of the time. Electrification and demand for electricity picks up.

1919–1922

Recession after the First World War

Recession in Sweden. Electricity demand falls. Construction of Harsprånget is stopped in 1922. Vattenfall enters an administrative period.

A plane traversing the flight route Porjus–Suorva.

1920

Flying pioneers

The first flight from Porjus to Suorva takes place on 17 August 1920.

Domestic science teacher. From the cover of FERA's magazine 'ERA'.

1927

FERA is formed

FERA – the Association for the Rational Use of Electricity – is formed. Electrification of households and the countryside gets more important.

1937

A national grid

Sydkraft's, Krångede's and Vattenfall's grids are linked up. The whole country is synchronised for the first time.

1939–1945

The Second World War

The war means energy shortages in Sweden. A major period of large scale investments in hydro power begins. In 1939, the Stadsforsen power station is put into operation, Vattenfall’s first power plant along the river Indalsälven.

1940

First step for environmental protection

Nämforsen power station is planned. The unique rock carvings are saved.

Start-up 2003 of building a new incineration plant in Uppsala

1948

Municipal district heating is introduced in Sweden

The first municipal district heating plant in Sweden is set up in Karlstad. In the German city of Hamburg and in the USA systems were tested as far back as the late 19th century.

A map of the power line between Harsprånget and Hallsberg.

1952

First 400 kV high-voltage line

Harsprånget power station is put into operation. The world’s first 400 kV line between Harsprånget and Hallsberg manifests the Vattenfall-Asea cooperation.

Stenungsund control room for Block 3 and 4

1959

Oil plant goes online

Stenungsund power plant goes online, an integral part of the Swedish electricity distribution for several decades.

The control room in Ågesta remains essentially unchanged since it was last operated.

1964

One of the first Swedish Line nuclear reactors

The nuclear power plant at Ågesta is put into operation, with technology following the Swedish line – a heavy-water reactor with natural uranium.

The cover of a brochure about electric heating, by Statens Vattenfallsverk.

1965

Electricity heating in Swedish homes

Vattenfall starts marketing electric heating to boost electricity consumption.

1969

Vattenfall’s first own nuclear reactor

Vattenfall starts building its first nuclear power plant with light-water reactors.

1970

Stop for river regulation

The government puts a stop to development along the river Vindelälven. With this decision the era of hydroelectric development is over.

1973

The first cogeneration plant goes online

Vattenfall, together with the city of Uppsala, forms the company Fyriskraft, to build the first cogeneration plant. Both electricity and district heating is produced through waste incineration.

1973

The first oil crisis

The price of oil quadruples in one year. Reduced oil consumption and energy efficiency is on the top of the political and economic agenda.

1974

The Marviken power plant goes online

It was called "The world's only oil fired nuclear power plant" and was seen by many as a huge failure. But the power plant contributed to the Swedish electricity supply for decades.

Protests against the usage of nuclear power

1980

Swedish referendum on nuclear power

A referendum on nuclear power is held. Line 2, which will phase out nuclear power at a slow pace, receives the most votes. The Parliament decides that all reactors are to be decommissioned by 2010.

The back of Forsmark nuclear power plant The back of Forsmark nuclear power plant

1985

Vattenfall – an energy service company

In 1985, Vattenfall’s latest reactor is commissioned at Forsmark. The power consumption begins to level off and Vattenfall changes from a building company to an energy services company.

1986

Severe accident at Chernobyl

A serious reactor accident occurs at a nuclear power plant at Chernobyl, Ukraine, in the former Soviet Union.

Schematic overview of the electricity supply in the divided city of Berlin in the 1950s.

1989

The fall of the Iron Curtain

The Berlin Wall, and thus the entire Iron Curtain, falls. Eastern Europe becomes an interesting market.

1991

The first steps towards an international company

Vattenfall begins its journey to become a truly international company. That means employees and managers with varying histories, cultures and personalities meet.

1992

Incorporation of Vattenfall

Vattenfall is incorporated. The national grid is separated from Vattenfall and overtaken by a new public utility, Svenska kraftnät, and Sjöfartsverket (The Swedish Maritime Administration) takes charge over Trollhätte Kanal.

Frida Hansdotter competing in giant slalom in St Mortiz

1995

Vattenfall starts sponsoring the Swedish national skiing team

Vattenfall is still, in 2021, a sponsor for some of Sweden's most popular national teams.

1996

Deregulation of the electricity market

The Swedish electricity market is deregulated.

In the late 1990's, Vattenfall expanded into fixed telephony

1998

Tests to sell electricity and telephony online

A specific company, Abonnera AB, is set up to test selling electricity and telephony online. Vattenfall realises that online sales and customer contacts is going to be a part of all electricity companies' operations.

Vattenfall's carbon capture and storage (CCS) pilot project Schwarze Pumpe.

1999

Expansion in Germany

Vattenfall’s expansion in Germany commences. A few years later, Vattenfall is Germany's third largest electricity company.

The district heating customers could switch their old coal boiler to a modern district heating station.

2000

Vattenfall buys Uppsala Energi

Five years later the waste incineration facility Block 5 is put into use.

2005

A new role for Vattenfall

Vattenfall receives a new articles of association which means the company should have a leading spot in the adaption to a perseverant Swedish electricity consumption.

2005

Emission allowances are introduced in Europe

A requirement is introduced in Europe that makes it necessary to have emission allowances in order to be able to generate electricity in fossil-fuelled plants.

2006

Fixed-price for the customers

The Fixed-Price Contract is launched which enables customers to choose a fixed price for three years in order to avoid price increases, but simultaneously entitles them to resubscribe if the electricity price was reduced.

2007

Helping the client

A special unit is formed to help clients streamline their electricity consumption. The Vattenfall profile Lars Ejeklint becomes an expert on the field, appearing on TV.

Yellow men. 100,000 men were taken out on a tour to Stockholm, Brussels, Hamburg, Berlin and Warsaw.

2008

Is accused of 'greenwashing'

Vattenfall's campaigns throughout Europe in 2008 and 2009 represent Vattenfall as a 'green', environmentally-friendly company, but are severely criticised and accused of double standards – so-called 'greenwashing'.

2008

Large investment in wind power

Vattenfall acquires Thanet in the UK, an offshore wind power project. Two years later, a wind farm with 100 wind turbines is opened in the English Channel.

2009

Acquisition of Nuon

Vattenfall purchases Nuon, the biggest Swedish corporate deal ever.

2009

One Tonne Life

During 2009-2011 Vattenfall runs a project together with amongst others A-hus, Volvo, Siemens and ICA for a more climate smart household.

2009

Global financial crisis

The economic recession that hit Europe 2009 has a major impact on the wholesale electricity prices.

2014

Magnus Hall takes over as CEO

Magnus Hall takes over as CEO and is leading the company at a time when climate issues is growing in importance, both on the political agenda and as a matter of concern to the general public.

View from OAP at DanTyck offshore windfarm.

2016

Highest priority for wind power

While wind power only accounted for two per cent of growth investments in 2005, it had risen to 75 per cent in 2016

Karin Lepasoon, Vattenfall's Head of Communications 2016-2020

2017

Four words that changed the company

Vattenfall is formulating a new purpose of the company – Power Climate Smarter Living – and the target of enabling fossil free living within one generation.

2018

The brand name Nuon is phased out

Vattenfall phases out the brand name Nuon in favour of the unified name Vattenfall.

Øystein Løseth, Lars G Josefsson, Anna Borg and Magnus Hall outside Vattenfall's head office in Solna, Sweden

2022

Four generations of CEOs meet

For the first time, four CEOs meet at the same time to talk about their experiences as Vattenfall’s top manager and about the energy industry past and present.