Vattenfall aB GeneRatIOn nORDIC CeRtIfIeD enVIROnmental ...

Summary
Resource use and emissions emanating from waste treatment through incineration or
deposition are included in the Ecoprofile, i.e. no crediting has been performed.
Conclusions of the LCA
The major environmental impact is attributable to construction and reinvestment of power
stations and dams. Operation contributes approximately 1 %.
ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
Land use and impact on biodiversity
Vattenfall´s Biotope Method 2005 is used to quantify impacts on biodiversity as a direct
consequence of the utilisation of land and water for economic activities. Affected areas are
categorised into Critical Biotope, Rare Biotope, General Biotope, and Technotope.
The 14 studied power stations, with their respective storage reservoirs, together occupy
and area of 74 850 hectares. The main part of this area, 70 320 hectares, constitutes reservoirs.
The table below shows the aggregated change of biotope categories caused by the
construction of the 14 stations. The specific values in the table give a rough approximation
of the direct biotope changes caused by Vattenfall’s Nordic hydropower. Data should be
interpreted based on the whole chapter on land use and biodiversity. See chapter 4.1 in the
complete EPD ® documentation.
Category Biotope change (ha) Change per kWh electricity
(m 2 /kWh electricity)
Critical biotope -30 000 –3 . 10 -4
Rare biotope -20 000 –2 . 10 -4
General biotope 30 000 3 . 10 -4
Technotope 20 000 2 . 10 -4
Environmental risk assessment
The conclusion is that over a longer period of time, the emissions due to undesired events
are considerably smaller than those emanating from operation under normal circumstances
except for emissions of gasified copper. See chapter 4.3 of the complete EPD ®
documentation.
Noise
The most notable noise outdoors is the sound from water running through above-ground
power stations. The noise levels are however lower than before development.
© Vattenfall AB Generation Nordic 2008