Oulujoki

Oulujoki in Oulu district Laanila

Bridge over the Oulujoki

Merikoski hydroelectric power plant in Oulu

The Oulujoki [ ɔu̯lujɔki ] (Swedish Ule älv ) is the outflow of Oulujärvi and flows in the Finnish city of Oulu in the Gulf of Bothnia. On a river island is the open-air museum Turkansaari.

Once a transportation route for timber and tar, the Oulujoki is an important energy source today. In him are twelve hydropower plants with an installed capacity of 541 MW and a standard capacity of about 2,600 GWh per year.

Hydropower plants on Oulujoki

Merikoski

Back in 1900 produced small power plants in Oulu electrical energy. In 1940 began the construction of the hydroelectric plant Merikoski. The first power supply was eight years later. In 1997 the dam was increased to 11 m. Upon completion, 500 people were responsible for the operation of the power plant, now there are 4

The picture shows the view from the south from the center of Oulu on the dammed Oulujoki. The dam forms a channel that directs the water to the turbine house on the left in the background. At high tide the water flows over the dam in the old river bed on the left. In the machines cottage in the center sit the electric drives for steel gates, which can lower the level of congestion.

In a design flow of 240 m³ / s three turbines generate a total output of 39.2 MW. With an occupancy rate of 40-70 %, the annual output between 140-250 GWh. Under favorable conditions Merikoski produces 1/3 of the electric energy needs of Oulu.