Emissions
With regard to the management of radioactive substances, TVO always strives to keep any emissions well below both the emission limits set by the authorities and TVO’s own target limits, which are more stringent than the official limits. With the electricity production at the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant, approximately 12 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions are avoided each year, compared with the same amount being produced by fossil fuels.
The theoretical radiation dose caused to neighboring residents in Olkiluoto is estimated to remain significantly below the threshold value. In 2020, the radiation dose was 0.24 µSv (threshold value: 100 µSv).
TVO takes part in Finland's fight against climate change by producing low-emission electricity. The Olkiluoto nuclear power plant is included in the European Union emissions trading scheme that aims at monitoring greenhouse gas emissions and achieving CO₂ reduction goals. Posiva also plays an important role in the mitigation of climate change since the final disposal solution is a part of the lifecycle of nuclear power.
The power plant’s actual CO₂ emissions are generated by the releases of the reserve boilers and the emergency diesel generators. The emergency diesel generators would ensure power supply of the plant in a possible but unlikely loss-of-power situation. In order to ensure safety, the emergency diesel generators are regularly tested in compliance with the technical specifications.