Environmental balance sheet

ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS FELL

Helsingin Energia’s environmental costs fell slightly on the previous year, standing at almost EUR 19 million. Environmental costs accounted for 3.5% of total costs (3.4%).

Flue gas cleaning (EUR 3.7 million) and waste management and utilisation of by-products (EUR 4.6 million) accounted for the greatest environmental costs. Desulphurisation costs were down because the power plants needed fewer fault repairs than in the previous years. The rise in other waste management costs is due to the modification works carried out at the power plants, such as the modernisation of the Salmisaari plant.

The increase in eco-efficiency and environmental management costs is due to the plans and measures related to increased use of renewable energy. The costs of energy-saving advisory services fell from 2013 when the upgrade of the Energy Gallery pushed expenses up.

INVESTMENTS IN EMISSIONS REDUCTION AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

Environmental investments increased considerably from the previous year’s EUR 2 million to EUR 10.5 million in 2014. The biggest environmental investments during the year were related to the modernisation of the turbine at Vuosaari B power plant (EUR 3.6 million), the reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions especially in Salmisaari (EUR 3.1 million) and the start of pellet combustion (EUR 2.7 million).

Environmental income fell to EUR 0.6 million. The income mainly consisted of grants received for research and development activities and from the sales of scrap.