This environmental impact assessment for Kriegers flak ... - Vattenfall

heritage, meaning that any exploitation and other interference
in the area can only be made if it, according to
§1, takes place in a way that does not harm the area’s
nature and cultural heritage. The outer archipelago is
the part, which from a nature and leisure point of view
is most unique from a national as well as an international
perspective. Due to this, large parts of the outer
archipelago have been suggested for the UNESCO
world heritage list. The area can be become a future
marine reservation area. The Swedish Environmental
Protection Agency has pointed out four protection-worthy
areas in the county of Stockholm, which are also
on the HELCOM’s BSPA (Baltic Sea Protected Areas)
list of areas which are to be considered as marine reservations
with Svenska Björn and the surrounding area
being one of these.
Fishing and navigation
A navigational lane of national interest touches the
area in the northeast. This is where the heavy trafÞ c to
and from Åland navigates. Furthermore, some coastal
shipping runs through the eastern part of the area. No
signiÞ cant commercial Þ shing occurs in the area.
Miscellaneous
The area is important from a nature and recreational
viewpoint.
8.2.9 Finngrunden
Water depth
Between 4 and 30 meters.
Distance to coast
Between 25 and 50 km. The closest point to land from
the west bank is about 25 km and the closest from
the east bank is about 50 km. This means a minimal
visual effect on the landscape but also very high costs
for grid connection.
Scope
SufÞ cient. Finngrunden is one of the largest shoal
areas in the country and has a theoretical potential for
development corresponding to the entire 10 TWh goal
set by the government.
Seabed conditions
ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS 51
The bank consists of a limestone plate with glacial deposits.
Sand and gravel is the most common sediment
but deeper depths are dominated by sand and mud. In
some places the seabed is rocky. In the south-western
part of the eastern bank there is a small area of sand.
Moraine materials such as sand, gravel and rocks are
in constant motion across the bank due to waves and
drifting ice.
Local wind conditions
According to SMHI the average wind speed is approximately
9 m/sec at a height of 80 meters. The values are
based on data measured in 2003. The energy potential
in the area is 6500 kWh/m2/year according to the
county council of Uppsala (Basis for STEM’s delimitation
of national interest within sea and coastal areas
within Uppsala county).
Conditions for grid connection
A wind farm should be connectable to the transmission
grid south of the critical border for transmission of
electricity between the north and south of Sweden. A
possible connection point could be Forsmark. However,
according to Forsmark, they can only take approximately
270 MW.
Environmental restrictions
None.
Fishing and navigation
The amount of active Þ shing boats has increased in the
past years and the Þ shing is primarily focused on herring.
There are both Swedish and Finnish Þ shermen in
the area.
Miscellaneous
Finngrunden is valuable from an archaeological viewpoint
as it contains at least 14 known wrecks older than
100 years. Extractable resources of sand and gravel
are found in the area. These deposits should not have
such an impact as to hinder the development of a wind
farm. The area is also valuable in terms of recreation.
Finngrunden is hard hit by drifting ice. Data from
1980-2004 show that the ice often reaches a thickness
of 50 cm. The drifting ice varies a lot but the northern
and eastern winds pack the ice into mountains or
valleys that in harsh conditions reach several meters