Sustainability is at the core of Fortum’s operations. We are one of Europe’s cleanest electricity producers, and we are bound by science-based short- and long-term climate targets. However, sustainable development does not only mean taking care of the climate and the surrounding nature and its diversity. It also covers social responsibility, which means monitoring the working conditions of suppliers and striving to increase transparency in supply chains, among other aspects.
Comprehensive targets for the promotion of biodiversity
Large solar power projects often cover an area of dozens of hectares or more and cause some local impact on both the surrounding nature and the landscape. Efforts will be made to reduce and compensate for these impacts in close cooperation with local residents and the authorities. In 2023, we set a target that our current and new operations will no longer reduce terrestrial biodiversity from 2030 onwards. Our goal was shaped on the basis of a science-based assessment of biodiversity impacts. In addition, we are committed to operating in accordance with the mitigation hierarchy in all its projects – that is, primarily to avoid and reduce negative impacts on biodiversity and then compensate for any harm caused. Compensation means first restoring nature in the project area and finally compensating for the impacts outside the project area.
The impact of solar power on biodiversity is most typically related to changes in land use. This means that the best opportunity to affect the project’s biodiversity footprint is through the selection of the project area. Fortum aims to develop solar power projects primarily for land with low ecological value, such as field areas, where the installation of panels does not significantly reduce the biodiversity of the area. In such areas, opportunities can also be found to increase biodiversity by planting meadow vegetation useful to pollinators, for example. Sheep can also be brought to graze in the areas between the solar panels. This is our plan for our Alvret solar power project on Gotland. Sheep take care of meadow vegetation so that it does not grow to cover the panels. In addition to the actual project area, biodiversity impacts arise during construction and in supply chains. In terms of the supply chain, our goal is to reduce the adverse impacts on terrestrial biodiversity upstream in the production chain to 50% of the 2021 level by 2030.
The ecological footprints of solar power plants are measured
The ecological footprint refers to the impact of human activities on biodiversity. The measurement of the ecological footprint includes for example the impacts of land use change and greenhouse gas emissions. Fortum is planning a case study on assessing the ecological footprint of the solar power plant in the Tarvasjoki project in Southwest Finland. The development project is currently in the nature impact assessment phase, and the project is progressing in cooperation with the municipality, involving local residents. The permit process for a solar power plant usually takes around two years to complete. The aim of the case study is to determine the nature footprint of the solar power project and to pilot actions to safeguard biodiversity in line with the mitigation hierarchy and examine their effectiveness. Although the target is set for 2030, it’s important to start work now so that we can find the most effective means and know how to apply them in the right project phase. The aim is to use the information obtained from the project in all future solar power projects.
Responsibility in solar power supply chains concerns the whole industry
At Fortum, we have been systematically working on sustainability audits of supply chains for years. Together with other international operators, we also promote the responsibility and transparency of solar energy supply chains. In June 2024, Fortum joined the Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI). As a member of the SSI, Fortum is committed to the SSI principles and to promoting the SSI programme and factory audits in its supply chain. The SSI principles take into account ethical business conduct and good governance, the environment, human rights and working conditions.
The reported risk of links between the solar supply chain and the use of forced labour is an issue that we take very seriously. International cooperation between operators in the sector is very important in order to effectively resolve sustainability issues in global supply chains.
Responsibility in solar power projects – from the procurement of panels to the construction of the plant and, ultimately, the restoration of the area at the end of the plant’s life cycle – supports not only Fortum’s goals, but also the implementation of projects. Dialogue with local residents is also key in implementing renewable energy projects and gaining acceptance.
Solar power has the potential to become a truly sustainable energy solution that takes into account the well-being of people, communities and the planet.
Fortum has announced a total of six solar power development projects in the Nordic countries, five of which are located in Finland (Virolahti, Lieto, Marttila, Orimattila and Loviisa) and one in Sweden (Gotland).
