Vattenfall

Pumping water for hydro power production has been done for decades. But new algorithmic tools are now making this method even more valuable for grid stability.

Velinga wind farm, an important addition to electricity production in southern Sweden, is now inaugurated. Velinga, located in Tidaholm municipality, began construction in January 2024 and is now fully operational. The park has an output of about 67 MW and with an annual production of 173 GWh, it contributes new, fossil-free electricity to both households and companies in the region. “Vattenfall continues to drive the transition to a fossil-free society, and wind power has an important role to play in this. With Velinga, new, fossil-free electricity will be supplied to an expanding region. In the long term, this will strengthen not only the region's but also Sweden's competitiveness," says Ulrika Ritzén ♦️, head of onshore wind at Vattenfall. Read more about Vattenfall's wind power at https://lnkd.in/dKKr8-xT #Vattenfall #windpower #sustainability

⚖️ Existing hydropower infrastructure is being adapted to a more variable energy landscape. As wind and solar shift how and when electricity is produced, hydropower is taking on a more dynamic role – starting and stopping more often, responding faster, and balancing the system in real time.    📈 This shift is driving both physical and digital change. Vattenfall’s ongoing research explores how materials and turbines perform under new conditions. At the same time, upgrades are increasing capacity within existing plants, while algorithms continuously adjust pumped hydro operations based on prices, weather and water levels.    💬 How should hydropower evolve to stay both flexible and responsible? Read the issue and share your thoughts.    THE EDIT newsletter is your monthly briefing on the journey to fossil freedom. Special thanks to Mats Billstein, Lovisa Fricot Norén, Helle Herk-Hansen, Jörg Seidel and Brit Gericke. #Vattenfall #theedit #newsletter #sustainability #goodnews #positivenews 

Vattenfall continues to accelerate its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while at the same time reporting a strong financial result. The 2025 Annual and Sustainability Report explains how the work is progressing. Since 2017, Vattenfall's total emissions have decreased by 56%, which means that the company continues to be fully in line with the 1.5-degree target. In 2025, Vattenfall took several important steps towards this goal:   - Final investment decisions have been made for the Nordlicht I and II offshore wind projects in Germany and the onshore wind farm Clashindarroch II in the UK. - The development of new nuclear power was intensified as we chose to proceed in the selection process with two suppliers of modular reactors and started the company Videberg Kraft AB. - Investment decision of a total of SEK 1.3 billion in a power increase of the Harsprånget hydropower station in the Lule River.   “The global situation poses challenges, but our direction is clear: our goal of fossil freedom remains firm. With profitable investments, more efficient ways of working, and important collaborations, we are creating value for customers, owner, partners and the climate – and thus for society at large,” says Vattenfall’s CEO and President Anna Borg. Read more at https://lnkd.in/dKGq59ye #Vattenfall #annualandsustainabilityreport #annualreport #sustainability

For years, large batteries were talked about as the solution just around the corner. Now they are being built at pace. Across Europe, battery parks are scaling up to capture surplus wind and solar power and release it within seconds when the system tightens. Falling costs and new setups are pushing battery storage from the margins into centre of how the power system is balanced. Read more at https://lnkd.in/gv8eh98p #Vattenfall #fossilfree #fossilfreedom #sustainability #batteries

Encouraging results from our seabird study! We’ve been monitoring how seabirds interact with one of the turbines at our Aberdeen offshore wind farm – every day for 19 months. Using AI-supported cameras and extensive manual expert review, 2,007 flight paths were analysed. Five cases were highlighted for further review, but closer scrutiny confirmed that there were no actual collisions. Together with the previous studies at Aberdeen, the findings show that seabirds actively avoid turbine blades – often keeping a distance of 100–200 metres – and that the impact is far lower than predicted before the wind farm was built in 2018. Long-term, real-world monitoring like this helps improve environmental assessments and gives greater confidence as offshore wind expands. Note: The research analysed video footage from 19 months of continuous monitoring of one of the Aberdeen turbines, between June 2023 and December 2024. The equipment captured around 95% of daylight hours and recorded 2,007 bird flight paths near the monitored turbine. Read more at https://lnkd.in/d2bnunKn #fossilfree #fossilfreedom #sustainability #wind #aberdeen

When women advance, everyone advances. On International Women’s Day, we recognise progress - and commit to the work still ahead. At Vattenfall, we are attracting more gender diversity into STEM, ensuring equal opportunities and inclusive practices, and taking steps to improve access to leadership. These priorities remain essential to a fair and future‑ready energy transition. Since joining Equal by 30, we have taken steady steps to improve access to leadership for women at Vattenfall. Female representation in leadership has increased from 24 percent in 2018 to 34 percent in 2025, reflecting long‑term and consistent efforts.   These developments reflect ongoing work to ensure women can enter, grow and lead across our organisation. Thank you to the women at Vattenfall and to our allies who power innovation and drive our mission every day. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/dPy2wGt8 Connect with our community Women in Energy by Vattenfall LinkedIn Group at https://lnkd.in/euaEVuGt #Vattenfall #InternationalWomensDay #WomenInEnergy #Diversity #Inclusion

Storms, power outages and increasingly vulnerable social systems have brought crisis preparedness issues to the forefront in Europe. At the same time, Finland is often highlighted as one of the best-prepared countries. What lies behind Finland's culture of preparedness – and what can others learn from it? 

🚢 Recent years have shown how closely our daily lives are tied to a secure power supply – and how exposed energy systems can be in times of conflict and geopolitical tension.    ⛽️ In this issue of The Edit, we explore what resilience really means in today’s energy landscape. From Europe’s reduced dependence on Russian gas and the rapid growth of wind and solar, to a new risk profile shaped by global LNG markets. From Finland’s mindset that disruption is part of modern life, to the global reality that 730 million people still live without access to electricity.    🔋 Expanding domestic fossil-free electricity is not only about climate targets. It is about stability, preparedness and long-term security of supply.    💬 How should Europe balance speed, affordability and resilience in the next phase of the energy transition? We invite you to read the issue and share your reflections.    THE EDIT newsletter is your monthly briefing on the journey to fossil freedom. Special thanks to Kristian Ruby, Malkus Lindroos and Guy Smith. #Vattenfall #theedit #newsletter #sustainability #fossilfreedom #goodnews #positivenews 

Wind and solar often generate at different times. When combined, their complementary profiles ease pressure on the distribution grid, reduce the risk of overload and make better use of existing infrastructure. In the Eifel region, we’re building our first hybrid park in Germany – combining wind and solar in one connected system.  Four wind turbines and more than 12,000 solar modules will share a single grid connection. One connection instead of two also means lower grid connection costs – helping to reduce the overall cost of renewable electricity. Read more at https://lnkd.in/dzwJcBFT #fossilfree #fossilfreedom #sustainability #wind #solar #germany