Fingrid has launched the environmental impact assessment of transmission line routes related to the Olkiluoto 4 nuclear power plant unit

Fingrid Oyj has been examining various options for the connection of the new nuclear power plant unit to the Finnish transmission system, and the needs to strengthen the transmission grid. The new nuclear power plant unit must be integrated with the rest of the power system so that the grid connection contributes to the safe and planned operation of the nuclear power unit and to the transmission of the electrical energy produced by the unit in different system situations.

 

The connection of the fourth nuclear power plant unit at Olkiluoto to the grid will require a new 400 kilovolt double circuit transmission line to be constructed from Olkiluoto to Rauma. Preparations will also be made to construct a new 110 kilovolt transmission line from Olkiluoto to Rauma parallel with the new 400 kilovolt line.

 

 

Moreover, the transmission grid needs to be reinforced by new 400 kilovolt transmission lines from Rauma to Ulvila, Forssa and Lieto. Approximately 290 kilometres of new transmission lines will be required. The new high-voltage transmission lines will be mostly built parallel with existing lines or in their place, utilising the existing rights-of-ways as much as possible with consideration to the system security of the transmission system.

 

 

EIA procedure provides information for the planning of power lines

 

Transmission line projects are subject to the statutory environmental impact assessment procedure, which is used for specifying the transmission line routes on the basis of the information on environmental impacts.

 

In the first stage of the EIA procedure, an assessment programme has been prepared. The programme has been delivered to the South-West Finland Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, which serves as the co-ordination authority in the project. The programme describes what impacts will be assessed in conjunction with the EIA procedure and how the assessments will be carried out. The assessment programme also contains information on the project and its options, planning schedules, and communications about the plan. The results of the assessment work will be compiled into an assessment report in the summer of 2012. The EIA procedure is expected to be complete towards the end of 2012.

 

The co-ordination authority, i.e. the South-West Finland Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, will be responsible for announcing the matter in public and requesting the necessary statements, and it will also give its own statement of the assessment programme and report. Websites in Finnish have been established for the purpose of the communications of and contribution to the projects at www.fingrid.fi (ympäristö>YVA-menettelyt).

 

 

Fingrid will make the decisions on the further planning and construction of the transmission lines later on the basis of the schedules specified for the fourth nuclear power plant unit at Olkiluoto.

 

Map of the 400 kilovolt transmission line routes related to Olkiluoto 4 nuclear power plant unit

 

 

Further information:
Fingrid Oyj: Mika Penttilä, Project Manager, tel. +358 (0)30 395 5230
Fingrid Oyj: Hannu Ylönen, Senior Advisor, tel. +358 (0)30 395 5259