Emissions reduction

Vattenfall is investing continuously to improve the environmental performance of our power plants. Taking a 30-year perspective on the reduction of emissions to air, the results have been substantial.

We have virtually eliminated particulates, while SO₂ and NO_X emissions have been significantly reduced through modern technology. The plan now is to do the same with CO₂ emissions through the development of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology.

The most significant environmental impact of Vattenfall’s operations that remains to be handled is from CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion in energy generation, both in terms of quantity and their effect on global warming.

Other significant emissions from Vattenfall´s operations are sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulates. These emissions have been significantly reduced through modern technology.

Reducing CO₂ emissions

Vattenfall believes that curbing CO₂ emissions will be the overriding challenge of our time and a defining issue for the power industry. Therefore, Vattenfall has laid out the strategic direction of reducing emissions from energy generation by developing low CO₂-emitting technologies and reshaping Vattenfall’s energy generation portfolio during the coming 20 years.

Vattenfall has set the target to reduce emissions of CO₂ per kWh in the generation portfolio. The long-term target is a 50% reduction by 2030 compared with 1990.

Vattenfall has a number of both large- and small-scale initiatives aiming at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Overall activities and investments to reduce such emissions include increasing generation from renewable energy sources, equipping coal-fired power plants with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology, improving energy efficiency, increasing co-firing of biomass in existing coal-fired plants, and increasing nuclear power capacity.

Other emissions

Other significant emissions from Vattenfall’s operations are sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NO_X) and particles. These emissions are significantly reduced by flue gas cleaning, which has been installed in modern plants.

Small amounts of greenhouse gases other than CO₂, such as nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄), are produced in boilers when any fuel is combusted. Sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) is still used in some electrical equipment.

Vattenfall strives to reduce emissions as far as possible by using advanced technologies to keep its emission below national and regional requirements.