Finland’s hydropower production hits 15-year low in March due to drought

Hydropower generation in Finland fell to its lowest March level in 15 years as prolonged drought and low snowfall in eastern regions reduced water levels, Yle reports.

Production dropped to just 852 gigawatt-hours (GWh) last month, down from 1,042 GWh in March 2023, according to data from the Finnish Energy industry association. Only 2003 and 2011 saw lower March outputs this century.

The decline stems from a two-year drought and minimal winter snow, particularly in Eastern Finland, where key rivers like the Vuoksi and Kymijoki now operate at reduced capacity. Fortum’s Imatra and Tainionkoski hydropower plants on the Vuoksi are running at 60% capacity, while Kemijoki Oy’s facilities on the Kymijoki have shut down some turbines due to flows below 300 cubic meters per second—less than half the usual rate.

Authorities have repeatedly cut water discharge from Lake Saimaa into the Vuoksi, with the latest reduction to 300 m³/s—the lowest since 2006. Tapio Tuukkanen of the Southeast Finland Centre for Economic Development noted that further cuts are unlikely, as this level is already the operational minimum.

Without regulated discharges, Saimaa’s water level would be 17 cm lower than current levels, with the gap expected to widen to 40 cm by late July. A 1960s treaty between Finland and Russia governs Vuoksi’s flow, allowing adjustments only during extreme droughts or floods.

Experts warn that if dry conditions persist, hydropower output could remain below average through summer. Marja Rankila of Finnish Energy also highlighted a trend of shorter winters, causing earlier spring floods and faster water depletion by summer.