As one of the most sustainable energy companies in Europe, Fortum looks to reduce their environmental impact wherever they can. Hydropower is one of the key renewable energy sources in the Nordics, and Fortum operates around 150 hydropower plants in Finland and Sweden altogether. Since it was created in 1878, Hydro energy has been by far the largest renewable energy source worldwide. Although it provides low-carbon, clean, eco-friendly electricity, the hydropower dams prevent thousands of fish from returning home every year. A problem which has been unsolved for almost two centuries. This creates a conflict for Fortum, for which they are also criticized by the public and in the media. Therefore, they need to find solutions that help them make existing renewable energy sources even more sustainable by enhancing their impact on biodiversity. We wanted the public to recognize hydropower as an eco-friendly way to produce energy.

IDEA: A floating hydraulic fishway that enables fish to migrate to spawn past dams. To successfully allow migratory fish to pass by the dam, it was necessary to recognize and differentiate the species that are migratory from the ones that are not.

PURPOSE: The main target audience of the campaign focused on PR was the general public, positioning Fortum as a company where people, businesses, and nature live together. By restoring the ecosystems affected by human alteration, Fortum + FishHeart created a sustainable solution to preserve the European migratory fish and help fishing communities at the same time.

A smart detection process collects the migration data in real-time. If the specimen does not belong to migratory species, the tunnel sends the fish back. If the specimen is a migratory fish, the underwater tunnel propels it safely and unharmed, to the other side of the dam.

This data is valuable not only for Fortum, but environmental researchers and local communities including fishermen. The data is reported to Fortum on a regular basis by FishHeart. For Fortum battling with the criticism around hydropower this is a real proof about conservation of biodiversity. The data is used for further campaigns, and it will shift our way of working towards a more data oriented approach. Environmental researchers and local communities also gain valuable insights on how different species behave, when they pursue their breeding waters.

The innovation operates on three domains: 1. Attraction Flow: The device produces an additional attraction flow that helps fish find their way up the river. 2. Smart Detection: AI detects fish and collects real-time data and photos of the migration. 3. Elevation: In the tube, fish are propelled upstream over the hydropower plant unharmed, even longer distances and steep ascents. The installment was proved to be valuable very early on, and this data is still used in the hydropower campaigns made by Fortum.

The perception of hydropower as an eco-friendly solution to generate energy has improved by 30 % in the Finnish public. We saw an increase also in the public demand for more hydropower, which rose by 15 %.

The technology by FishHeart is going to be adopted in 20 countries in 2024. The patent is active in 16 countries, and in process in 38 more countries. The US Department of Energy grants 1,3 million USD in funding for FishHeart.

Fortum showed an example to other energy companies, while the FishHeart technology is being implemented by them to even more rivers. This is true value beyond energy.