Environmental impact

At Ringhals nuclear power plant we are continuously working to reduce the environmental impact of our operations. Our aims are to generate a good environment in our local area and to live up to the requirements imposed on us by public authorities and the outside world.

Ringhals aims to generate a good environment in our local area.

All forms of electricity production affect the environment in some way. Nuclear power comes off well from the environmental point of view in comparison with other techniques for producing electricity. This is true of the whole process, from uranium mining and fuel preparation to operation and waste management.

A modern nuclear power plant has very low emissions of greenhouse gases and environmental pollutants. The downside is the radiation risk. Nuclear power is therefore supervised closely and the environmental requirements are strict.

Emissions supervised closely

Over the course of a year, the emissions from a nuclear power plant are not allowed to increase the radiation in the immediate surroundings by more than 0.1 mSv, which is 10 percent of the natural radiation. The actual emissions from Ringhals are far lower, less than 1 percent of the permitted value (less than the radiation you receive in an ordinary dental X-ray).

Radiation is easy to measure, and regular checks and measurements are carried out, for instance on animals and plants. The results are reported every month to the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority.

Environmental certification at Ringhals

Since 2002, electricity supplies from Ringhals have possessed an EPD certificate (Environment Product Declaration). The EPD is no traditional eco-label, rather an environmental product declaration that specifies the environmental impact of each kilowatt-hour of electricity from Ringhals.

In 1998, Ringhals was certified in accordance with ISO 14001, the standard for environmental management.